MILLIONS of Brits are set to get their “spring dose” Covid vaccine within weeks.
Brits over 75 years old, care home residents and people over 12 who are immunosuppressed can get a booster in a few weeks.
NHS England is prepped to start dishing out vaccines to eligible people later this month, as long as they are six months on from their last shot.
The original plan was to start the next phase of the rollout from April, but anyone who is eligible before then can have another vaccine.
It has not been confirmed when exactly this might start, with some reports suggesting from March 21 – if you think you are eligible, wait for your invite.
An NHS spokesperson said: “The NHS continues to follow JCVI guidance accepted by Government, and in line with this, the NHS will be vaccinating eligible people with a spring dose six months after their first booster starting later this month for the small number of people eligible before April.”
Extending the spring rollout to people under 75 or in other at-risk groups will be kept under review, the Health Secretary said last month.
Keeping up with boosters is the best way to stay protected from catching and spreading the virus, and ward off any new variants.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed if you have your booster, you’re 85 per cent less likely to end up in hospital than if you’re unvaccinated.
Omicron is milder – especially in the vaccinated – and Brits are now learning to live with Covid.
But as case numbers are still high with thousands catching the bug every day, jabs are the best way to protect yourself and others.
Experts were quick to make reassurances the spring offer is not in response to any looming danger or concerns for people’s safety.
It is instead to get ahead of any waning immunity and ensure those who could be most at risk remain fully protected, they said last month.
However it comes now as immunity starts to wane in older Brits, and hospital admissions creep up.
New daily infections in the UK have also increased in the last few days, moving from around 40K-a-day last week to over 70,000 fresh cases yesterday.
Sajid Javid last month urged Brits to get their boosters and make sure they have taken up all offers of jabs they are eligible for.
Many won’t have had theirs after thousands were struck down with the bug over the Christmas period, and had to wait 28 days before booking back in.
Now is the time to make sure you’ve had your booster shot, to keep cases down and avoid spreading the bug as restrictions lift.
