Vulnerable residents encouraged to take up spring booster

A spring booster vaccine against Covid-19 is to be offered to people most at risk of serious illness to protect them this summer.

Last week the government announced that the spring booster will be made available to people aged 75 years and over, those in care homes and those aged 5 years and over with a weakened immune system. The booster programme will start in early April, with those most vulnerable invited first.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said hospital rates for Covid-19 in autumn 2022 showed that the risk of becoming seriously ill from coronavirus was noticeably higher in people aged over 75. This means it is even more important that those eligible get their booster vaccine as quickly as possible ahead of the summer holidays.

Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Support Member for Public Health and Integrated Care, Paul Northcott, said: “The spring booster offers an additional layer of protection to our most vulnerable residents to top up their immunity and reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill this summer.

Covid-19 is still circulating, and we have recently seen an increase in older people being hospitalised in England. Vaccination continues to provide the best protection against the virus, and I encourage everyone who is eligible to come forward as soon as the booster programme starts.”

People at higher risk of severe Covid-19 are also expected to be offered a booster vaccine dose in autumn 2023 in preparation for the winter.

For more information about the spring booster covid vaccine and how to book, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-spring-booster-resources/a-guide-to-the-covid-19-spring-booster-2023