NHS England began the autumn COVID booster rollout in the week of 5 September 2022, vaccinating care home residents and people who are housebound first, ahead of a wider rollout due to start on 12 September1. The NHS said it would become the first healthcare system in the world to use the next generation, bivalent COVID vaccine when it started the campaign in early September1.
Around 26 million people across England were eligible for an autumn booster in line with guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)1. The National Booking Service was due to open in the week of 5 September, with the NHS inviting those most susceptible to serious illness from COVID-19 and those aged 75 and over to book from that week, online or through 119, provided three months had passed since their last dose1. As many as 3,000 sites were expected to take part, including GP practices and community pharmacies, with new sites joining throughout the programme1. The NHS said local sites would continue to be advised to allow immunosuppressed patients to self-declare and attend walk-ins1.
The announcement, made on 18 August 2022, followed updated JCVI advice published that week1. The NHS said more than 126 million COVID vaccines had been administered since the first jab outside clinical trials was given to Maggie Keenan in Coventry in December 2020, and that well over four in five eligible people had received a spring booster earlier in 20221. The JCVI and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) stressed that the original vaccines also continue to provide great protection and that people should come forward regardless of which vaccine was offered1.
"The NHS will contact people when it is their turn to book in for the vaccine, you do not need to contact the NHS."
The same announcement set out the flu vaccination campaign, with eligible people encouraged to take up the offer from the first of the month where possible; eligible individuals could be offered the flu and COVID jabs at the same time, with the doses approved to be co-administered1. Health and social care staff were also eligible for the autumn booster in line with JCVI guidance, and providers were asked to ensure staff were offered the autumn jab, co-administering with the flu jab where possible1.
| Group or detail | What was announced |
|---|---|
| First vaccinations | Care home residents and housebound people, week of 5 September 20221 |
| Booking opens | National Booking Service open that week; wider rollout from 12 September 20221 |
| Invited from that week | Those most susceptible to serious illness from COVID-19 and people aged 75 and over1 |
| Eligible across England | Around 26 million people, in line with JCVI guidance1 |
| Sites expected | As many as 3,000, including GP practices and community pharmacies1 |
| Interval since last dose | Three months1 |
Why it matters for households
The campaign affected households in England with someone eligible for an autumn booster: those most susceptible to serious illness from COVID-19, people aged 75 and over, care home residents, housebound people, immunosuppressed patients and health and social care staff1. The first invitations covered care home residents and housebound people from the week of 5 September, with booking open to the wider eligible group from 12 September1. The NHS said it would contact people when it was their turn and that people did not need to contact the NHS1. It also advised local sites to allow immunosuppressed patients to self-declare and attend walk-ins1. The JCVI and MHRA said people should come forward regardless of which vaccine was offered1. Households can check who is currently eligible in the guide to who can get a COVID-19 vaccine now, and the wider schedule in vaccines that protect against outbreaks.
What happens next
The wider rollout was due to start on 12 September 2022, with the NHS inviting those most susceptible to serious illness and people aged 75 and over to book from the week of 5 September1. The flu vaccine was also being rolled out, with eligible people encouraged to take it up from the first of the month where possible, and local systems rolling it out in the way that worked best for them1. The autumn booster was offered where appropriate and subject to sufficient supply being made available to the NHS1.
Who Can Get a COVID-19 Vaccine
Vaccines Against Outbreaks
