If you have not yet received your first or second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the NHS encourages you to get vaccinated before the offer ends on June 30. The vaccination programme has already delivered over 146 million jabs and has helped save countless lives, protect vulnerable populations and allow us to resume normal activities. It is important to note that there is an 8-week interval requirement between the first and second dose for those aged 18 and over. You can easily book an appointment online or by calling 119, or you can visit one of the numerous walk-in vaccination sites across the UK.
To build on the success of previous booster campaigns and in line with guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), a seasonal, targeted vaccination offer will remain available to those most at risk. Health Minister Maria Caulfield stated that, as we learn to live with Covid-19 without restrictions to our freedoms, we must move towards a more focused vaccination offer that prioritises those most at risk to ensure that we can reduce waiting times for NHS treatment.
Over two million eligible individuals have already received their vital top-up dose in the spring booster programme. The programme includes roving NHS vaccination teams that have been visiting care homes across the country since April 3, and eligible individuals in the community have been receiving the vaccine since April 17. The programme ends on June 30, which is also the last day to receive the offer of a first or second Covid-19 vaccine.
The JCVI advises that the risk of serious illness with Covid-19 is disproportionately greater in older age groups, residents in care homes for older adults and persons with certain underlying health conditions. The NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening, Steve Russell, urges any unvaccinated individual aged 18 and over to come forward for their primary course by the end of June, as the vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to boost your protection from serious illness caused by Covid-19.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, emphasizes that Covid-19 vaccines have made it possible to live with the virus by protecting millions of individuals. Getting vaccinated remains the best way to prevent severe illness and can increase your protection even if you have previously had the virus. Should a person move into an at-risk group, the offer of a first or second dose will re-open with seasonal booster programmes. Don’t wait, get vaccinated against Covid-19 today!
