NHS staff are working hard to prepare for the rollout of the COVID-19 autumn booster programme and the annual flu vaccine.

Following the recent updated advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the NHS has now set out plans for the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme – the largest and fastest vaccine drive in health service history.

Set to start during the week of 5 September, NHS staff will begin vaccinating care home residents and people who are housebound.

The National Booking Service will also open that week ahead of the wider rollout, due to start on the 12 September, with the NHS inviting those who are most susceptible to serious illness from COVID-19 and those aged 75 and over to book an appointment from that week.

The NHS will contact people when it is their turn to book in for the vaccine – you do not need to contact the NHS. We urge all those invited for both a flu and COVID-19 booster vaccine to take up the offer as quickly as possible – it will give you maximum protection this winter.

People who are immunosuppressed can also choose to walk-in for their Autumn booster, bringing with them a GP or consultant letter, or prescription that identifies their immunosuppressed status.

Some patients may be invited to have their vaccination at a local GP-led site. A number of pharmacies in the area will also offer the autumn booster to eligible patients.

Getting your annual flu vaccination is the best form of protection for staying well this winter. Each year the NHS prepares for the unpredictability of flu. For most healthy people, flu is an unpleasant but usually self-limiting disease with recovery generally within a week. However, there is a particular risk of severe illness from catching flu for:

• older people
• the very young
• pregnant women
• those with underlying disease, such as chronic respiratory or cardiac disease
• those who are immunosuppressed

Howard Martin, Director of Population Health Management at NHS Norfolk and Waveney, said:

“The COVID-19 vaccination programme across Norfolk and Waveney has been extremely successful with almost 2.5 million vaccinations given to local people.

“Vaccinations will be offered at a range of sites, including GP practices, local pharmacies, hospital hubs, and large vaccination centres, with sites currently being finalised and confirmed.

“The NHS will contact people when it is their turn to book in for the vaccine – you do not need to contact the NHS. We urge all those invited for both a flu and COVID-19 booster vaccine to take up the offer as quickly as possible – it will give you maximum protection this winter.”