The NHS is offering a further COVID-19 vaccination to people who are most at risk from serious illness from COVID-19 this September.
The programme started last week with care homes and people who are housebound. Other eligible groups including people aged 65 and over, those who are more at risk, those who are pregnant, carers, household contacts and health and social care workers are invited from this week.
People who are eligible can book their jabs:
- through the NHS website
- using the NHS App
- by calling 119
Eligible groups may also be offered a vaccination by their GP surgeries or other local NHS services.
Appointments will be limited at first with more times and locations being added as soon as they are available.
Councillor Bruno De Oliveira, chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board, said: “The NHS vaccination programmes are very effective in protecting those at greatest risk and preventing serious illness or hospitalisation.
“It’s important for everyone who is eligible to top up their protection, even if they’ve been ill with flu or covid before, as immunity wanes over time and these viruses change each year.
“With concerns over new covid variants, I strongly urge everyone eligible to come forward as soon as they can and encourage friends and family to do the same.”
Who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination this autumn?
The NHS is offering a further COVID-19 vaccination to people who are most at risk from serious illness. This includes people who are:
- residents in care homes for adults
- aged 65 years and older
- aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
- pregnant
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline workers in health and social care settings
Don’t forget your flu vaccine
Eligibility for free NHS flu vaccines is the same as above, plus also:
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023
- school-aged children (from Reception to Year 11)
Adults should be invited by their GP. Once invited, you should book an appointment with your GP or a pharmacy as soon as possible to ensure you are protected ahead of winter.
Most children are offered the flu vaccine as a nasal spray. Younger children will be invited by their GP and school-aged children will be offered this through their schools. Parents are strongly encouraged to fill out their consent forms to enable their child to get protected.
More information
This year’s NHS Flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes have been brought forward due to risk of new COVID-19 variant.
More information about the local vaccination programme is available on the Sussex Health and Care website.
The local booking hub can also be contacted on 0300 303 8060 if you need to book a COVID-19 vaccination in Brighton & Hove.