Adults aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older people and those age 12 and over with a severely weakened immune system are being urged to book a spring booster vaccine from today.
The spring booster programme opens on 21 March and offers the most vulnerable members of the community a chance to top up their immunity because Covid-19 is more serious for older people and those with a weakened immune system.
The NHS will contact those who are eligible to make a spring booster appointment. The NHS will prioritise those whose clinical need is greatest, as it has throughout, starting with those who have had a bigger gap since their last dose, then working through the cohort to invite others who have waited less time. Everyone who is eligible will be offered a top up over the Spring and early Summer.
The public will be able to book an appointment at more than 50 sites across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire including pharmacies, Vaccination Centres and GP practices.
Amanda Sullivan, Accountable Officer at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG, said: “The Covid-19 vaccination programme has successfully kept thousands of people in our region from becoming seriously ill with Covid-19 and this is an opportunity to further protect the most vulnerable.
“If you are over 75 or severely immunosuppressed, your protection from previous doses of the vaccine may now be lower and will continue to gradually decline. This booster should help to reduce your risk of catching Covid-19 or being admitted to hospital if you do.
“You can book a booster from 6 months after your previous dose and I would strongly urge everyone eligible to top up their immunity, especially as we learn to live with the virus going forward.
“At the same time, the NHS continues to encourage those who have yet to come forward for their first, second or booster dose, to do so at a time and place that is convenient for them. COVID-19 is still active, and the vaccine offers the best protection against becoming seriously unwell, staying out of hospital and passing the virus on to others.”
If you’ve had a positive Covid-19 test, you need to wait 4 weeks before getting your spring booster. This starts from the date you had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if you did not have any symptoms. It is important you get your spring booster as soon as possible after this period to ensure you have the maximum possible protection against Covid-19 in the future.
Those eligible can book an appointment by calling 119 or through the NHS website.
Why are some people being invited for a spring booster?
COVID-19 is more serious in older people and those with a weakened immune system. Protection from the vaccine may be lower and may decline more quickly in these people. For this reason, people aged 75 years and over, those in care homes and those aged 12 years and over with a weakened immune system are being offered the spring booster.
When will people be able to book their spring booster?
JCVI’s advice is that people should wait until around six months since their last dose for maximum effectiveness, and people are asked to wait until they are invited by the NHS to book. People should wait to be contacted by the NHS. The NHS will begin inviting people from the week beginning 21st March and will offer a top-up dose to all who are eligible during Spring and early Summer.
How do I get my booster dose of the COVID vaccine?
For spring boosters, you should wait until the NHS contacts you. For an initial booster dose (the first dose following your primary course), you can visit www.nhs.uk/covid-booster to find your nearest walk in option or book an appointment. You can also call 119 free of charge which also offers translators on request.
How do adults in an older adult care home get a spring booster?
Care home residents will receive a Covid-19 spring booster within the care home setting. A special ‘roving team’ of vaccinators is delivering this service and they will arrange it directly with the care home.
What happens if someone who has yet to be called forward for a booster had their last jab more than three months ago turns up at a vaccine centre – will they be turned away? If so, why?
The JCVI advice is that people should wait until around six months since their last dose for maximum effectiveness, and people are asked to wait until they are invited by the NHS to book. However, provided they are in one of the eligible groups and they attend a site that accepts walk-ins for booster doses, they will not be turned away if it has been more than three months since their previous dose and they have not had COVID recently (see next answer).
I have recently recovered from COVID-19, do I still need to get vaccinated?
Yes. You still need to get a booster dose of the vaccine for extra protection, even if you have recently recovered from COVID-19.
If you have recently recovered from the virus, you will need to wait before getting any dose of the vaccine. People will need to wait:
• 4 weeks (28 days) if they are aged 18 years old or over, or aged 5 to 17 years old and at greater risk from COVID (as defined in UKHSA’s Green Book – see table 3 and table 4 here)
• 12 weeks (84 days) if they are aged 12 to 17 years old and not at greater risk from COVID (as defined in UKHSA’s Green Book – see table 3 and table 4 here)
Why should I still get the vaccine now that restrictions have been lifted?
Vaccines have enabled the gradual and safe removal of restrictions on everyday life over the past year. Thanks to the COVID-19 vaccine, we are able to get back to doing the things we love. However, COVID-19 is still out there and there are still people in hospital unwell with the virus.
Make sure you stay up to date with your vaccines for the best possible protection and for extra reassurance that you’re keeping yourself and others safe.
Will I get side-effects from a booster dose?
You may experience some mild side effects from the booster dose, regardless of how you reacted to previous COVID-19 vaccines. Side effects are very mild, do not last for very long and not everybody will get them. Side effects can include a sore arm, feeling tired, a headache, feeling achy, and feeling or being sick. If you do get these, a pain killer such as paracetamol is recommended.
Will I be expected to get more doses of the COVID vaccine in the future?
The NHS will be delivering a Spring Booster in England to those who are most vulnerable from COVID-19, including people aged 75 and over. The NHS is also preparing to deliver an autumn dose of the vaccine, but whether this happens will depend on future recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
Can I still come forward for a first or second dose if I’ve not yet done so?
It’s never too late to come forward for your first, second or (if you were immunosuppressed at the time of one of these) a third dose of the vaccine. You do not need to be registered with a GP and can find a walk-in option, book an appointment or more information at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccine or by calling 119 (translators are available into different languages on request).
Why are no other groups of people being invited to come forward for a spring booster?
The NHS vaccinates people in line with recommendations on who is eligible from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), as accepted by government.
