Who is eligible for the Covid booster vaccine and how can you book it?
The Covid-19 booster vaccine rollout has been ramped up amid concerns around the new Omicron variant – which has led to the reintroduction of some restrictions in the UK.
The rollout of jabs is being opened up to younger age groups, following reports that the new strain is able to evade some of the immunity provided by the earlier vaccine doses.
With early research on Omicron suggesting that a booster jab could provide up to 75% protection against symptomatic infection, people are being urged to book theirs as soon as possible.
Who is currently eligible for a booster jab, and how can they book yours?
Who is eligible for the Covid booster vaccine?
In the UK you can book a booster from Wednesday if you received your second dose at least three months ago, and you are:
- Aged 18 or over
You can book one now if you are
- Aged 40 or over
- Aged 16 or over, with a health condition putting you at high risk from Covid-19
- A front-line health or social care worker
- Or, an adult living with an immunosuppressed person
Boris Johnson has vowed to offer everyone eligible a booster jab by the end of December, in a bid to stem the spread of Omicron.
He said scientists had discovered that being fully vaccinated with two doses is ‘simply not enough’ to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus mutation and without speeding up the booster campaign, the NHS could be overwhelmed.
How to book your Covid booster appointment
If you are eligible, then you can book your booster appointment via the NHS website, or by turning up at a walk-in centre.
You can find out which clinics near you are offering on-the-spot vaccinations by heading to the NHS website and using their walk-in clinic finder service.
You will be sent an NHS letter reminding you to have your booster dose when you become eligible.
You can take this letter – or a letter from your GP or consultant about any underlying health condition – to any walk-in site to have the jab done.
If you do not receive a letter but think you may be eligible, you should contact your GP directly.
If you have recently had Covid-19, you’ll need to wait at least 28 days after the onset of symptoms before having your jab.
This is to allow time to recover from the infection, as Covid-19 symptoms can worsen in the second week of infection – and could be confused with side effects from the vaccine if it were given at the same time.
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