NHS issues warning as last day for universal Covid jab approaches

Those eligible to receive the spring Covid booster jab are being urged to come forward by the NHS as the campaign is set to close at the end of the month. Friday June 30 is also the last chance for anyone to get their first or second Covid vaccine if they haven’t already.

After this date, the NHS is moving to a targeted seasonal offer for those at increased risk. Over the next four weeks, there are millions of appointments available at thousands of sites across the country, making it easy for people to get the spring booster.

The NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Programme has provided more than 3.6 million people with a spring booster to date, which is more than half of those eligible. The campaign kicked off on April 3 in adult care homes and roving NHS teams have now visited around nine in 10 care homes.

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More than 240,000 eligible care home residents - over three quarters of those eligible - have had this extra protection. Others eligible for a spring dose have been vaccinated since April 17.

Around 6.6 million are eligible in line with JCVI advice, which includes people aged 75 and over, people aged five and over with weakened immune systems and older adult care home residents.

NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening Steve Russell said: “Most of those offered the vaccine this spring have now had this extra protection, including over three quarters of older adult care home residents. There is now just one month left for others who are eligible to come forward.

“If you have had only one COVID vaccine so far, or none at all, it is not too late. You can get vaccinated quickly and easily until 30 June, after which the offer will become more targeted, like the