Million more to receive booster jab invitations

THE NHS is inviting more than one million high-risk people to come forward for Covid booster jabs.

Hundreds of thousands of text messages and letter invitations are due to be sent out this week as part of the latest phase of the vaccination programme.

Almost 850,000 people have already booked in for their top-up jab since the national booking system opened for bookings for boosters on September 21.

Meanwhile, more than 79 million vaccinations have been delivered – with nearly nine in 10 adults having had their first dose since December 2020.

The NHS is currently offering booster jabs to those who had their second vaccine at least six months ago, are living in residential care homes for older adults, are over 50, or are front-line health and social care workers.

It is also inviting people aged 16 to 49 with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe symptoms and adults who have household contact with immunosuppressed individuals.

NHS England’s chief executive,

Amanda Pritchard, said: “In just a few days, the NHS has seen almost 850,000 people book in for their vital booster jabs and we will this week be inviting a further one million people who are most at risk from Covid to get this crucial top-up to their protection.

“I encourage anyone who has received an invite to come forward for their booster jab as soon as they can and protect themselves and their loved ones this winter.”

The booster programme is being delivered through existing sites, including pharmacies, hospital hubs, GP practices and vaccination centres and, in line with guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, people will receive either one dose of Pfizer or half a dose of Moderna.

But the NHS also said people could be offered a booster dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine if they cannot have the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.

This latest phase comes shortly after the NHS began vaccinating 16 and 17-year-olds with a single dose.

Vaccinations have also begun for children aged 12 to 15 at schools after the Government accepted the UK chief medical officers’ recommendation to extend the vaccine offer to this age group.

Meanwhile, the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 in England has jumped 18% in a week, in a sign that new cases of coronavirus are once again on the rise.

A total of 191,771 people tested positive at least once in the week to September 22, up from 162,400 the week before, according to latest figures. It is the biggest week-on-week percentage increase since mid-July, which was the last time there was a major spike in Covid-19 cases in England.

The latest numbers are still well below the level reached during the second wave of the virus. Figures peaked at 390,280 cases in the week to January 6.

Just 58% of GP appointments in England were conducted face-to-face in August, new figures from NHS Digital show.

Before the pandemic, in August 2019, 80% of appointments were carried out in person, falling to 52% last August.