Care home residents and health and care workers are set to be among the first to receive the new, variant-tackling jabs from today (Monday, 5 September), as the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme moves to the next phase.
Around four million people who are at highest risk, including the over 75s and those with weakened immune systems, will also be eligible to book a vaccine through the National Booking Service next week, with the first appointments available from the following week.
As part of the fastest and largest vaccine drive in NHS history, around 1.6 million care home residents and staff and housebound people in England will be eligible for the autumn dose.
Covid-19 vaccines are vital for protecting the population of Kent and Medway and remain the best defence against the virus.
Guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on the autumn programme outlines who can receive the jab. These include:
- residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
- frontline health and social care workers
- all adults aged 50 years and over
- people aged five to 49 years in a clinical risk group (as set out in the Green Book)
- people aged five to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- people aged 16 to 49 years who are carers (as set out in the Green Book)
Those eligible will be able to book on the national booking system.