Who can have an autumn booster?
The booster dose is available to:
- people aged 50 and over
- people aged 5 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 system
Anyone aged 16 or over, or an at-risk child aged 12 to 15, who has had both primary jabs can have a first booster.
People with a severely weakened immune system were offered an additional third primary dose before being offered a booster.
A free flu jab is also available to more people this autumn – some will be offered it at the same time as their Covid booster.
Which vaccine will people get?
The NHS is using Moderna’s new “bivalent” vaccine, which tackles both the original Covid virus and the Omicron variant.
It has also approved a second bivalent vaccine from Pfizer.
However, health officials say people should 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.
Which children can get jabbed?
All 5 to 11 year olds in the UK can have two doses of a reduced-strength Covid vaccine, 12 weeks apart.
In addition:
- 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?
- In England: You can book online, by calling 119, or you can visit a walk-in clinic (although, not all offer jabs to under 12s)
- In Scotland: Over 16s can register for their first dose or book their second or booster dose online, or by calling 0800 030 8013
- In Wales: Over 16s will be invited for their booster. If you haven’t been invited – or you haven’t had your first two doses – you can contact your health board
- In Northern Ireland: Appointments for over 5s can be made online or by calling 0300 200 7813
Carers of 5 to 11 year olds in Scotland and Wales should wait to be offered an appointment.
You should leave 8 weeks between your first and second dose, and at least 12 weeks before having a booster.
How many people have been vaccinated?
According to the latest figures, 94% of all people aged 12 or over in the UK have had a first dose of the Covid vaccine, 88% a second dose and 70% a third or booster dose.
More than five million people – about 22% of those aged 50 and over in England – have received an autumn booster.
However, in July, a report from an influential committee of MPs warned that vaccine take-up has been low for several important groups, including pregnant women, younger people and those from some ethnic backgrounds.
How long after Covid can I have a jab?
You should wait four weeks after a positive test, even if you had no symptoms.
Under 18s who are not at higher risk from Covid should wait 12 weeks.
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 results on a Covid test.
What are the side effects?
The most common side effects include a sore arm, headache, chills, fatigue and nausea.
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.
There are extremely rare, but occasionally fatal, cases of people developing blood clots after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine.
A very small number of people have experienced a severe allergic reaction after the Pfizer vaccine.
You should discuss any existing serious allergies with your healthcare professional before being vaccinated.