Don’t turn up for Covid booster jab unless invited says NHS Berkshire West

The NHS in Berkshire West is now giving out boosters to those who had their second jab at least six months ago.

It is currently only giving the jab to people who are eligible at this moment, including those living in residential care homes for older adults, those 40 years or over, frontline health and social care workers, those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk, adult carers and adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals.

These jabs are not yet available for younger age groups, but the NHS says it is working on plans to deliver this both nationally and locally.

A Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group spokesperson said: “Our staff are now working at speed to respond to this new challenge - the biggest change in eligibility since the programme was launched.

“It is important to be aware that the NHS will contact people to take up the offer as soon as they are eligible.

“People should not contact their GP practice or other parts of the NHS or turn up at vaccination centres until they are contacted by the NHS about booster appointments.”

They added: “While changes to the booking system are put in place and booster jab services are expanded in the coming days, the NHS will continue to vaccinate people already eligible for top-up jabs.

“The booking service will then open to others in their 40s and older people who would previously have had to wait six months, before moving on to younger age groups.

“The intention is to ensure everyone eligible for a booster is given the chance to book one by the end of January 2022.”