The national COVID-19 booster programme has been brought forward from October and will now begin on Monday 11 September.

This decision has been made by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in response to the new BA.2.86 COVID-19 variant, and the high prevalence, severity and rise in hospital admissions. 

Those currently eligible for the vaccine include:

• residents in a care home for older adults
• all adults aged 65 years and over
• people aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk group
• frontline health and social care workers
• people aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• people aged 16 to 64 years who are carers and staff working in care homes for older adults

From Monday 11 September to Friday 15 September vaccination teams nationally will focus on vaccinating those residents in care homes.

The national booking system  for public clinics will then open on Monday 18 September, for appointments from Tuesday 19 September. 

Please see our COVID-19 vaccination centre pages for more information and clinic details.