Overview
- The national NHS booking system is now open and invites are being issued ahead of the programme starting on September 1 for pregnant women, two- and three-year-olds, and school pupils.
- A wider adult rollout is scheduled from October 1 for people aged 65 and over, adults in clinical risk groups, care home residents, carers, close contacts of immunocompromised people, and frontline health and care workers.
- Vaccinations will be delivered through GP practices, school immunisation teams, participating community pharmacies and commercial providers such as Boots, which begins NHS appointments on September 1 and plans a paid service from September 22.
- Officials are urging eligible people to book early to protect vulnerable family members and to help reduce winter demand on A&E and hospital beds after record summer attendances.
- Last season nearly 19 million people in England were vaccinated and UKHSA analysis estimates about 104,000 hospital admissions were prevented, with up to a 40% fall in hospitalisation for adults aged 65 and over.