Spring COVID-19 vaccination boosters19 April 2024 Between April and June 2024, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be inviting people for their Spring COVID-19 vaccinations. Similar to the previous spring and autumn vaccinations, the vaccination is being offered to those at high risk of serious disease and who are therefore most likely to benefit from the vaccination. All four nations have accepted the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises that for the 2024 spring vaccination campaign that the following groups should be offered a vaccine: Adults aged 75 years and over Residents in a care home for older adults Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in tables 3 and 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book) The JCVI outlines that people who are immunosuppressed include people who have rheumatoid arthritis and are on certain medication (for example biologics, JAK Inhibitors or high doses of steroids). For children under the age of 11 who have a diagnosis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, they will be eligible if they are receiving any dose of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs with the exception of hydroxychloroquine. Your GP will categorise people based on clinical need. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have confirmed that all eligible individuals will be contacted by their local NHS service and will be invited for a vaccination. Why is the vaccine important? Vaccinations provide good protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and can help protect the most vulnerable from death. Like other vaccines, levels of protection may begin to reduce over time and the spring dose will help protect you for longer. Vaccination does not prevent someone from contracting the virus but it will significantly reduce the chance of you becoming severely unwell. For more information in your region, please click below: England – A guide to the spring 2024 COVID-19 vaccination campaign – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Wales – Eligibility for the vaccine – Public Health Wales (nhs.wales) Scotland – Spring coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine | NHS inform Northern Ireland – Get a COVID-19 vaccination in Northern Ireland | nidirect