Spring Covid-19 vaccinations: top up your immunity
Local people most vulnerable to a Covid-19 infection are being urged to top up their immunity as it emerged only around 20% of those eligible who are immunosuppressed have taken up the latest offer.
Everyone aged 75 and over, those living in care homes, and people aged five and over with a weakened immune system are all eligible and being contacted by the NHS for the spring vaccination. However carers and loved ones of these people are not eligible.
Dr Geeta Iyer, Clinical Lead for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, said: “Uptake of the Covid-19 spring top-up vaccine by people who are severely immunosuppressed is very low so far, only around 20% in our area. I strongly encourage anyone who has a health condition that means they are entitled to an additional vaccine, such as undergoing cancer treatment, to come forward before the offer ends on 30 June 2023.”
In addition to the spring vaccination (often referred to as a ‘booster’), anyone who has not had a first and second dose of the Covid-19 vaccination can still get them – but only until 30 June this year.
All of the Covid-19 vaccinations can be booked by visiting the NHS website or by calling 119 for free.
Alternatively you can usually attend a community walk-in clinic near to where you live, with a regularly updated list of these available on our vaccination page.
In future, the NHS Covid-19 offer will continue to become more targeted to those at increased risk, usually during seasonal vaccination campaigns.