The east of England’s senior Director responsible for the roll-out of the covid spring booster campaign Ruth Ashmore, has called on people eligible for a covid jab, to book an appointment before the end of June.
The NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Programme’s spring campaign will end this Friday 30 June. This will be the last day anyone due a spring booster (or yet to have a first or second dose), will be able to get one.
The fastest and largest vaccine drive in NHS history has vaccinated more than 574,000 people across the east of England with a spring booster – more than 69% of all those eligible – since the campaign began two months ago.
A total of 17,731,449 covid vaccines have now been delivered across the East of England, including more than 5,270,888 first doses.
Anyone due a jab should book an appointment online as soon as possible – there are almost 37,000 appointment slots available this week.
Around 831,000 are eligible across the east of England, in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which includes people aged 75 and over, people aged five and over with weakened immune systems and older adult care home residents.
With the vaccination offer set to end until any future campaign is announced by the JCVI and Government, east of England’s covid immunisation team urges those yet to come forward to do so this week and ensure they have the maximum protection from covid over the coming weeks and months.
As the NHS’ life-saving spring vaccination campaign comes to an end, now is the last chance for those eligible to come forward for a booster, or get a first or second dose, as we move to a targeted, seasonal campaign.
“If you are due a jab, please book your appointment for this week – it will give you protection for the coming months and peace of mind through until winter.”
Ruth Ashmore, the NHS’s lead for the vaccination programme in the east of England
Spring vaccinations are being offered to those at greatest risk, in line with JCVI advice.
Those invited should make sure their appointment takes place at least three months since their last dose.
Anyone who believes they should be eligible for a vaccine but hasn’t yet been invited can check online. Alternatively, they can self-declare via the National Booking Service and then speak to a clinician on site. For more information on the covid vaccination click here.
Covid-19 vaccinations for everyone who was aged 5 on or before 31 August 2022 will also end after that date, following recent advice from the JCVI. After 30 June, the NHS offer will become more targeted to those at increased risk, usually during seasonal campaigns.
There are more than 350 sites across the east of England where you can be vaccinated, with the majority of appointments being delivered in communities by pharmacies and GPs.
For further information please contact the NHS east of England media team on [email protected] M: 07702 420254