The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has confirmed its advice for a 2023 spring coronavirus (COVID-19) booster programme.

In January 2023, the committee advised preparations should begin for potential booster programmes in spring and autumn this year, with further details to be announced at a later date.

The committee has since advised that a spring booster dose should be offered to:

• adults aged 75 years and over
• residents in a care home for older adults
• individuals aged 5 years and over who are immunosuppressed

Eligible individuals will be offered the vaccine around 6 months after their previous dose and NHS England will confirm operational details for the programme in due course.

The JCVI has advised the following vaccines may be used in the 2023 spring programme:

• Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent
• Moderna bivalent
• Sanofi/GSK monovalent (beta variant)
• Novavax monovalent (wild-type variant) – only for use when alternative products are not considered clinically suitable

The vaccine offered will depend on a person’s age and local supply considerations. Children aged under 12 years will be offered a children’s formulation of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.

Kate Keeling, Associate Director of Immunisation & Health Inclusion, NHS Norfolk and Waveney said:

Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 and the spring booster programme provides an opportunity for those who are at highest risk of severe illness to keep their immunity topped up.

It is really important that those who are eligible, to come forward as soon as the next phase of the programme begins and get vaccinated.