THE Covid vaccination programme will see more than one million invited to have their booster jab - with invites being sent from today.

A full list has been revealed of who will be able to have their third dose of the Covid vaccine ahead of the winter period, starting today.

The NHS has said texts will be sent as the national booking system goes live this morning, with letters also being sent later this week.

Read more: Teesside made Novavax Covid-19 vaccine faces long delays

Guidance on what vaccines should be given to recipients has also been published, confirming they may be offered a different jab to your first and second doses.

'We should not drop our guard'

Dr Nikki Kanani, deputy lead for the Covid vaccination programme, said: “The NHS Covid vaccination programme has already prevented 24 million cases and saved more than 112,000 lives.

“As we head into winter we should not drop our guard so I would urge everyone to come forward and get a booster vaccination when then they are invited.

“Getting a top-up vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from this cruel virus."

Those who have had their second vaccine for at least six months are eligible to have their booster and follows fresh guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation last week. 

Who is eligible

Those who are eligible for a booster are those which the NHS classes as most vulnerable of falling seriously ill with Covid and includes:

- those living in residential care homes for older adults

- all adults aged 50 years or over

- frontline health and social care workers

- all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (as set out in the green book), and adult carers

- adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals

The NHS has said the booster programme is being rolled out at mass vaccination sites across the North East and North Yorkshire, bookable through the NHS website.

It said GP-led vaccination services have already started contacting eligible patients to come forward for their third dose. 

Meanwhile, it said hospital hubs had also started vaccinating frontline health and care workers and moving to identify eligible patients.

What vaccine will I have? and will it be the same as my first?

In line with JCVI advice people should receive either one dose of the Pfizer vaccine or half a dose of the Moderna vaccine.

That means for some people their booster dose may be different from the vaccines they had for their first and second dose.

People could also be offered a booster dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine if they cannot have the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.

What the Government has said

The Health Secretary, Sajid Javid said that the booster is in an "important" way of keeping the virus under control ahead of the winter period when infections are expected to rise even further.

He said: “It is excellent that getting your booster jab has now become even easier thanks to the opening of the National Booking Service to those eligible.

“Booster doses are an important way of keeping the virus under control for the long term and will protect the most vulnerable through the winter months.

“I urge everyone who receives a letter or text to get their jab as soon as possible so we can strengthen the wall of defence across the country that each vaccine brings.”

The NHS Covid vaccination programme, the biggest and most successful in health service history, has already delivered more than 77 million vaccinations.

What about children?

The rollout of the booster programme comes as the NHS confirmed it would soon begin vaccination of vulnerable children aged 12 to 15 in line with Chief Medical Officer advice. 

How to book your Covid booster jab

The NHS said that once those eligible receive their invite, they will be able to book an appointment online by clicking here at one of the mass vaccine sites across the country.

People that aren’t able to book online can book by phoning the NHS coronavirus helpline on 119.

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