The rollout of the covid autumn booster, which began last September, will formally come to an end on Sunday 12th February.
This confirmation comes following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to the Government and means that anyone in Lincolnshire who is eligible for an autumn booster and wants to have one, should come forwards sooner rather than later.
In addition, the JCVI has advised that the 2021 booster offer (third dose) for persons aged 16-49 who are not in a clinical risk group should also close in alignment with the close of the autumn booster on 12th February.
“Since we launched the autumn booster in the county five months ago, more than 304,000 Lincolnshire people have come forwards to have it,” comments Karen Hewinson, Head of Clinical Services, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust.
“This is equivalent to around 73 percent of all those eligible, which is a phenomenal number and means Lincolnshire compares very favourably, in terms of uptake, with the rest of the midlands region and further afield.
“We couldn’t have done this without the support of Lincolnshire people and, of course, their willingness to have an autumn booster means they have topped up their protection against being seriously ill as a result of covid.”
Anyone aged 50 and over is eligible for an autumn booster, as are children and adults aged 5-49 who are in one or more at risk groups or who are household contacts of someone with immunosuppression, including pregnant women, plus carers aged 16-49, and frontline health and social care workers.
If you are eligible for an autumn booster please book now using the National Booking System or walk-in to a vaccination centre before 12th February 2023.
The Vaccination Centre at the Weighing Rooms (Grandstand), Carholme Road, Lincoln is offering the autumn booster as both a pre-bookable appointment and also on a walk in-basis until 12th February, find out more.
In addition, there are a number of pop-up vaccination sessions offering walk-in autumn boosters, which are being held around the county until 12th February. Visit our Grab a jab page.
“In terms of what next, the JCVI has also advised that plans will be made for those at higher risk of severe covid-19 to be offered a booster vaccination this autumn (2023),” explains Karen. “In addition, the JCVI has said that it will very shortly also provide final advice on a spring booster programme for those at greatest risk.
“In the meantime, please don’t forget that if you want to have an autumn booster, you have just over two weeks until 12th February, so please come and see us as soon as you can,” concludes Karen.
Published 26/01/2023