People aged 65 and over can book COVID-19 booster vaccines now
People aged 65 and over are being invited to boost their immunity in time for winter as the COVID-19 autumn booster programme kicks off.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), which delivers the COVID-19 vaccine across many sites in Mid and South Essex and Suffolk and North East Essex, is urging local people who are eligible to take up the offer as soon as they can.
Vaccination is our best form of defence against COVID-19. Booster vaccines help provide longer-lasting protection; they lower your chance of getting infected, and reduce your risk of becoming seriously ill.
Getting vaccinated will help protect our local community and reduce pressure on hospitals and other health and social care services this winter.
This autumn, the NHS will offer booster vaccines to people most at risk of becoming seriously ill due to COVID-19. Booster vaccines will be offered to:
- people aged 50 and over
- frontline health and social care workers
- care home residents and staff
- people aged 5 and over who are in a clinical risk group
- people aged 5 and over who are household contacts of someone with a reduced immune response
- people aged 16 and over who are carers
Bookings are now open for people aged 65 and over, as well as carers, health and social care workers and care home residents and staff, to receive a booster dose of vaccine against COVID-19 this autumn. People aged 5 and over who are more vulnerable to COVID-19 (including pregnant women) can also book their appointments.
People in other eligible cohorts will be invited to book their appointments over the coming weeks.
To be eligible for the booster jab, you must have had at least two doses of vaccine against COVID-19. You must have had your last dose at least three months (90 days) ago.
Appointments are available across Mid and South Essex and Suffolk and North East Essex as early as next week. Book an appointment online via the NHS National Booking Service, or call 119.
Hundreds of vaccination clinics are scheduled to take place across Essex and Suffolk at locations including GPs, pharmacies, hospitals, large vaccination centres and more.
EPUT is offering booster vaccines at three large vaccination centres in Mid and South Essex, and four centres in Suffolk and North East Essex. These large centres are able to vaccinate hundreds of people per day, thousands per week, scaling up and down according to vaccine supply and demand.
In addition to this, EPUT has two Community Vaccination Bus services and pop-up clinics across the area, offering walk-in vaccinations at convenient local venues.
Nigel Leonard, Executive Director of Major Projects and Programmes, and head of the COVID-19 vaccination programme at EPUT, said: “I would urge people in our local community to get boosted this autumn as soon as you are invited. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, those you love, and the NHS from the worst impacts of COVID-19.
“EPUT has delivered more than 1,410,00 life-saving vaccines to date. Whether you book an appointment at one of our vaccination centres, or choose to drop by the bus or a pop-up clinic, our amazing staff and volunteers are dedicated to making your experience as quick and comfortable as possible. We look forward to seeing you.”
If you’re aged 65 or over, are clinically vulnerable, a carer, or work in health and social care or a care home, book your booster appointment now: visit the NHS website or call 119.
For more information about EPUT’s vaccination centres, the Community Vaccination Bus and pop-up clinics, visit eput.nhs.uk/covid-19-vaccine-information