Thousands of people across Lincolnshire will be able to have their Covid-19 autumn booster from next Thursday 3rd October, and can book an appointment for their vaccination now.
The latest round of the Covid-19 vaccination will again provide vital protection for those people most at risk ahead of winter, to keep them from developing serious illnesses and ending up in hospital.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised the following groups be eligible for Covid-19 and also flu vaccinations:
- Adults aged 65 years and over
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group (as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book
“As with previous Covid-19 vaccination campaigns, we strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to book an appointment to have their Covid-19 autumn booster and you can do this online via the NHS website, by downloading the NHS app, or by calling 119 for free,” explains Steve Clapton, Lincolnshire Covid Programme Lead, NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board.
In addition to getting a Covid-19 autumn booster, people in the groups above are also eligible for a flu vaccination.
“Flu season usually peaks in December and January, so offering Covid-19 autumn boosters and flu vaccinations to the same groups of eligible people will mean that they have the maximum protection during the colder months when people typically spend more time indoors and viruses spread,” explains Steve .
Eligible people will begin receiving invitations from the NHS to get their jabs, while GP practices and other local NHS services will also be contacting people to offer both vaccines. Community pharmacies will play an even greater role in the roll out of this latest Covid-19 and flu vaccination campaign.
“Eligible people may be offered a flu vaccination in the same appointment as their Covid-19 autumn booster. Alternatively flu vaccinations can also be booked by searching online for a local pharmacy,” adds Steve .
The Government has decided that the Covid-19 autumn booster and flu vaccines will also be offered to frontline health and social care staff, with staff in older adult care homes being offered the Covid-19 jab.
For more information on the Covid-19 autumn booster campaign in Lincolnshire, visit Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccinations in Lincolnshire – Lincolnshire ICB.