Most vulnerable to be offered spring COVID-19 booster in the West Midlands

Eligible people in the West Midlands region are being urged to boost their immunity against COVID-19, following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) confirmation of a spring booster programme.

In January 2023, the committee advised preparations should begin for potential booster programmes in spring and autumn this year, with further details to be announced at a later date.

The committee has since advised that a spring COVID-19 booster dose should be offered to:

• adults aged 75 years and over

• residents in a care home for older adults

• individuals aged 5 years and over who are immunosuppressed

Eligible individuals will be offered the vaccine around six months after their previous dose and NHS England will confirm operational details for the programme in due course.

Dr James Chipwete, Health Protection Consultant leading on respiratory infections for UKHSA West Midlands, said: “We’ve seen a slight increase in the number of cases of COVID-19 in the last week across the West Midlands region, with most in people aged over 65. However, no matter what age you are, if you are clinically more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, it’s really important that you take up the spring booster when it’s offered to you. People who are at increased risk of complications from infection could become extremely unwell if they catch COVID-19, and even end up hospitalised. So, to protect yourself and support our NHS, it’s vital you get your booster when invited.”

The JCVI has advised the following vaccines may be used in the 2023 spring programme:

• Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent

• Moderna bivalent

• Sanofi/GSK monovalent (beta variant)

• Novavax monovalent (wild-type variant) – only for use when alternative products are not considered clinically suitable

The vaccine offered will depend on a person’s age and local supply considerations. Children under 12 years of age will be offered a children’s formulation of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, Chair of the JCVI’s COVID-19 Committee, said:“Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 and the spring booster programme provides an opportunity for those who are at highest risk of severe illness to keep their immunity topped up.

“This year’s spring programme will bridge the gap to the planned booster programme in the autumn, enabling those who are most vulnerable to be well protected throughout the summer.”

Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “COVID-19 is still circulating widely, and we have recently seen increases in older people being hospitalised.

“It is important those at highest risk of severe illness do not become complacent and I would encourage everyone who is eligible to come forward once the booster programme starts.”