Covid booster: Who can get another jab this winter?
The number of coronavirus cases in the UK continues to rise, according to the latest weekly figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Across the UK, more than 18.5 million people have had a winter Covid booster jab.
Who can have a booster?
The booster is available to:
- people aged 50 and over
- those aged five to 49 with health conditions that put them at higher risk – including pregnant women
- care-home staff
- front-line health and social-care workers
- carers aged 16 to 49
- household contacts of people with weakened immune systems
Anyone aged 16 or over – or an at-risk child aged 12 to 15 – who has had both primary jabs can have a booster.
How many people have been vaccinated against Covid?
- 53.8m people in the UK have had a first dose (94% of over-12s)
- 50.8m have had a second dose (88%)
- 40.4m have had a booster or third dose (70%)
The 2022/2023 winter’s Covid booster vaccination programme has reached more than 18.5 million people across the UK:
In England, the figure equates to almost two-thirds of over-50s (64%).
Which vaccine will people get?
Health officials advise people to take whichever booster they are offered, as all vaccines provide protection against becoming severely ill or dying from Covid.
First and second vaccine doses are either AstraZeneca or (for under-40s) Pfizer or Moderna.
Some pregnant women complained they were not given enough information about the Covid jab
Which children can get jabbed?
- all 12 to 15-year-olds are offered two doses of Pfizer
- all 16 and 17-year-olds can have a booster, three months after their second jab
- 12 to 15-year-olds in an at-risk group – or who live with someone with a weakened immune system – can have a booster
How do I book my Covid vaccine?
Twelve to 15-year-olds in Scotland and Wales should also be contacted directly, but can speak to the relevant helpline or local health board if not.
You should leave eight weeks between your first and second dose, and at least 12 weeks before having a booster.
How long after Covid can I have a jab?
Under-18s who are not at higher risk from Covid should wait 12 weeks. Those who are should wait four.
You should not have a jab if you have a severe illness or high fever.
The vaccines do not infect you with Covid and cannot cause positive test results.
What are the side effects?
They are part of the body’s normal immune response to vaccines and tend to resolve within a day or two.
Why it is normal for some people to experience short-term side effects from Covid-19 vaccines
You should discuss any existing serious allergies with your healthcare professional before being vaccinated.
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