Thousands of eligible south west Londoners are being reminded to get their Covid-19 seasonal vaccine after the roll-out was brought forward due to the emergence of a new variant.
The start of the Covid-19 booster and flu vaccination programme was changed following an announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care and the UK Health Security Agency on the risks presented by the new BA.2.86 variant.
It means those most at risk from winter illness – including those in adult care homes, the clinically vulnerable, people aged 65 and over, health and social care staff and carers – will be able to access a Covid-19 seasonal vaccine in September.
The winter vaccination programme kicked off on Monday 11 September for residents of adult care homes and people who are housebound.
Booster vaccinations will be available to book from Monday 18 September with the NHS contacting those who are eligible.
Older people and those with underlying health conditions remain most at risk from Covid-19 and the vaccine continues to provide the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation.
Local GP Dr Nicola Jones
NHS staff have worked hard to prepare for the programme’s earlier start and there will be many sites across south west London available to make it as easy as possible to get protection.
Leading south west London GP Dr Nicola Jones said people should get both vaccinations as soon as they can due to the risk of the new Covid-19 variant and ahead of winter.
She said it is important for those who are eligible to top up their protection even if they have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or Covid-19 before as immunity wanes over time and the viruses change each year.
Dr Jones said: “With a new Covid-19 variant circulating and winter on the horizon, it’s important people who are eligible book in for their vaccination.
“Older people and those with underlying health conditions remain most at risk from Covid-19 and the vaccine continues to provide the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation.
“At first the roll-out will be in care homes and for people who are housebound before moving on in the coming weeks to everyone else who is eligible – getting that vaccination will strengthen immunity in the colder months and help to reduce pressure on the NHS.”
Adult flu and Covid-19 appointments will be available through the NHS app, the NHS website or by calling 119. Flu vaccines will also be available through local GP practices and pharmacies.
Children aged two to 17 will still be able to receive their flu vaccinations from next week.
Children aged 2-3 will be invited by their general practice. School-age children will receive the vaccine at school and parents need to fill in a consent form.
The most effective vaccine for children is the nasal vaccine, which is even more convenient and easily administered when compared to a jab. If this is not suitable the GP or practice nurse may be able to offer a flu vaccine injection as an alternative.
Health and social care workers will be invited for their vaccines through their employer.
In total, more than 3.6 million Covid-19 jabs have been delivered by healthcare staff and volunteers in south west London since the first vaccination in December 2020.
Those eligible for an autumn Covid-19 vaccine are:
- residents in a care home for older adults
- all adults aged 65 years and over
- people aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book, Covid-19 chapter
- frontline health and social care workers
- People aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts (as defined in the Green Book) of people with immunosuppression
- People aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (as defined in the Green Book) and staff working in care homes for older adults.
In line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, those eligible for a flu vaccine this year include:
- People aged 65 years and over
- those aged six months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups – as defined by the Green Book, chapter 19 (Influenza)
- pregnant women
- all children aged two or three on 31 August 2023
- school-aged children (from Reception to Year 11)
- those in long-stay residential care homes
- carers in receipt of carers’ allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme.