2023 Spring Booster Programme

10 March 2023

The government has approved advice from the JCVI that an extra booster vaccine dose in spring 2023 should be offered, as a precautionary measure to:

  • Adults aged 75 years and over.
  • Residents in a care home for older adults.
  • Individuals aged 5 years and over who are immunosuppressed.

As long as there is a 3-month gap between the date of your last vaccination, you will soon be able to access this booster dose. Please wait for the NHS to contact you if you think you’re eligible for a spring booster.

The JCVI has advised that the following vaccines may be used in the 2023 spring programme:

  • Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent.
  • Moderna bivalent.
  • Sanofi/GSK monovalent (beta variant).
  • Novavax monovalent (wild-type variant) – only for use when alternative products are not considered clinically suitable.

Which vaccine you are offered will depend on your age and local supply considerations. Children aged under 12 years will be offered a children’s formulation of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.

The full JCVI statement can be seen here.

Please also see the official government advice for those who have a weakened immune system.

Furthermore, Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay, said:

“Our Covid vaccination programme has saved tens of thousands of lives across the country and helped to ease pressure on the NHS during a challenging winter.”

“It is important that we continue to ensure the most vulnerable are protected through a targeted seasonal vaccination offer for those most at risk, which is why I have accepted advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on this year’s spring booster programme. This will top up the protection of those considered at highest clinical risk, spring booster vaccines will be offered to adults aged 75 years and over; residents in a care home for older adults and immunosuppressed individuals aged 5 years and over.”

“The spring booster programme is due to end on 30 June and as we live with the virus without past restrictions on our freedoms, I am also announcing that the offer of a first or second dose of Covid vaccine will end at this time.”

“Covid continues to infect thousands of people every week, so I strongly encourage anyone who has not yet taken up the offer of a first or second dose of vaccine to join the 42 million who have already come forward for both doses.”

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