Almost 80% of eligible over-75s receive spring booster

The top-up jab is offered to all over-75s, those aged 12 and over who are immunosuppressed and residents in care homes for older people around 6 months after their last dose.

Up to 8 May, 79.2% of all those aged 75 and over who were eligible at the end of March had taken up the vaccine.

Broken down further, 78.1% of 75 to 79 year olds and 79.6% of people aged over 80 had received the jab.

The data looked at the number of booster doses administered from March 21 up to May 8 against the number of people recorded as being aged 75 and over on March 31.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Chief Executive, Dr Jenny Harries, said:

The Spring booster offers additional protection to those most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent falling seriously ill, so these latest uptake figures are very encouraging.

We know the virus is still circulating so I would urge anyone who is eligible to come forward for their booster if they have not already done so.

More than 3.1 million Spring boosters have been administered to the overall eligible cohort.

Data from the government-funded COVBOOST trial, led by University Hospital Southampton, shows a fourth dose of a vaccine provides strong protection and boosts antibody levels above that of a third dose.

Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup said:

This is brilliant progress – thank you to the amazing NHS and care sector workers, volunteers and public health colleagues for your continued dedication to protect the public.

As soon as you are eligible, please come forward to boost your immunity.

Spring booster jab appointments can be booked quickly on the NHS website or by phoning 119 for those who cannot get online. People will be invited by the NHS to book an appointment around 6 months after their previous dose.

Local NHS teams are also delivering Spring boosters in care homes for older adults to those who are eligible.

Deputy Lead for the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme and Chief GP, Dr Nikki Kanani, said:

This latest data shows that the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has vaccinated 4 in 5 of eligible over 75s with a Spring booster, with more than 1.3 million coming forward in under 2 months for additional protection thanks to NHS staff continuing to work at speed to roll these fourth doses out.

We know that millions of other eligible people have also had their Spring booster, either because they are immunosuppressed or live in a care home, and I would encourage anyone receiving invites in the coming days and weeks, or yet to act on theirs, to come forward and book in to get what is a proven, significant increase in protection from COVID-19.