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04 April 2022
Spring COVID-19 booster vaccine information
Information for people with a weakened immune system (the severely immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed).
The national booking service for COVID-19 vaccines is now open for Spring booster appointments. The NHS has made it easier for people with a weakened immune system to get the vaccinations they need.
This article contains information on Spring COVID-19 booster vaccinations for people who are at a higher risk of more severe outcomes from COVID-19. Please use the menu below to navigate to the relevant section:
People aged 12 and over who have a weakened immune system (the severely immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed)
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that people with a weakened immune system fall into two groups: severely immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed.
It is important to be aware that the recommended vaccination schedule is different for these two groups.
In February 2022, the JCVI advised a Spring booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for:
- adults aged 75 years and over;
- residents in care homes for older adults; and
- individuals aged 12 years and over who have a weakened immune system (this includes people in both the severely immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed groups).
Everyone who is eligible will be offered a booster dose over the Spring and early Summer before the end of June.
The interval between an individual’s last vaccine dose and the Spring booster should be between three and six months, but the JCVI have said that this should ideally be 6 months.
If an individual was 'severely immunosuppressed' when they had their first two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, either due to underlying health conditions or medical treatment, the vaccine may not have provided as much protection as it can for people who do not have a weakened immune system.
The 'severely immunosuppressed' group includes people who had or have:
- a blood cancer (such as leukaemia or lymphoma)
- a weakened immune system due to a treatment (such as steroid medicine, biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy). People with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis should pay particular attention to the criteria listed under points 2 and 3 of this list.
- an organ or bone marrow transplant
- a condition that means you have a very high risk of getting infections
- a condition or treatment that your specialist advises makes you eligible for a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
- Make an appointment through the national booking service
- Call 119 to book an appointment
- Find a walk-in site (not every walk-in site is able to offer vaccination for people who are immunosuppressed, so please use the NHS’ online finder to make sure you choose the right site for you)
- A hospital letter describing your condition
- Evidence of prescribed medication at the time of your first or second dose – either in a hospital letter that describes the medication being prescribed, a prescription copy or a medication box with your name and the date on it
Further information about the eligibility criteria for the 'severely immunosuppressed' group can be found here. Not everyone with a weakened immune system is considered 'severely immunosuppressed'.
If you have a weakened immune system but don’t meet the criteria for the 'severely immunosuppressed' group, you should refer to the section on the 'immunosuppressed' group below.
Guidance from the JCVI recommends that a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine be offered to individuals aged 12 years and over who were severely immunosuppressed at the time of their first or second dose.
It is recommended that the third dose be given at least eight weeks after the second as part of the primary course of immunisation. However, in some cases, a clinician might advise a different interval because of ongoing treatment or starting treatment which will suppress the individual’s immune system.
People in the 'severely immunosuppressed' group have already been offered a follow up booster and they are now eligible for a Spring booster too. For many people, the latter will be their second booster (fifth dose).
Those who have completed their three-dose primary course, but not yet had a booster, should receive their Spring booster at least 91 days after their third dose.
The JCVI has published a full list of eligibility criteria for the 'immunosuppressed' group in table 3 (pages 16-17) of the Green Book, chapter 14a for those aged 16 and over, or the 'immunosuppression' section of table 4 (page 22) for those aged 5 to 15.
A Spring booster is recommended for the 'immunosuppressed' group. Alongside their two primary doses, this is in addition to the follow up booster that has already been offered, so for many people, this will be their second booster (fourth dose).
Those who have completed their two-dose course, but not yet had an initial booster, should receive their Spring booster at least 91 days after their second dose.
How to get the vaccine
You will usually be contacted by the NHS inviting you to book when your COVID-19 vaccination is due, but if you are immunosuppressed, you don't have to wait to be contacted.
There are three ways you can access your vaccination:
When attending your vaccination appointment or visiting a walk-in site, ideally you should present relevant medical documentation confirming your eligibility.
Examples of medical evidence that can be used to confirm eligibility includes, but is not limited to:
For people who are severely immunosuppressed and receiving their third primary dose, the evidence should provide proof that they were immunosuppressed at the time they received their first or second dose.
For people receiving their Spring booster, the evidence should provide proof that they were immunosuppressed at the time they received their previous booster.
If none of the evidence described is available, it may still be possible to get your jab – just speak to a clinician when you arrive for your appointment.
Children aged 12 to 15 who are at a higher risk
The JCVI advises a booster dose for 12 to 15-year-olds who have a health condition which puts them at higher risk from COVID-19 (but who are not immunosuppressed and therefore already included in the group eligible for a Spring booster).
A booster is also offered to people in this age group who are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed.
The recommended interval is a minimum of three months after the second primary dose.
Information on eligibility can be found in table 4 (page 22) of the Green Book, chapter 14a.
How to get the vaccine
Most children in this age group will have been offered a first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at school, during school hours.
GPs and hospital specialists have been asked to identify 12 to 15-year-olds who are eligible for boosters – both those in a clinical risk group and household contacts.
Parents and guardians are usually notified if their child should get a booster.
Families can find a time for their child to be vaccinated – whether it’s a primary dose or a booster – through the national booking service, by calling 119 or finding a walk-in site using the NHS’ online finder.
Not every walk-in site is able to offer vaccination for 12 to 15-year-olds, so please use the site finder to make sure you choose the right site.
When attending their appointment, children must bring a letter, text message or email from a GP or hospital specialist confirming that they are eligible for a booster dose.
This communication may have been sent to them directly, to their parent or guardian, or to the person with a weakened immune system if they are eligible as a household contact.
If you or your child have not been contacted but you think they are eligible, please contact your GP surgery.Children aged 5 to 11 who are at a higher risk
The JCVI recommends that 5 to 11-year-olds who are either in a clinical risk group or are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed be offered two 10 micrograms doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with a minimum interval of eight weeks between doses.
Information on eligibility can be found in table 4 (page 22) of the Green Book, chapter 14a.
The JCVI has said it will keep under review whether the booster programme should be extended to this group.
How to get the vaccine
GPs and hospital specialists have been asked to identify 5 to 11-year-olds who are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
Parents and guardians are usually notified if their child should get the vaccine.
Most children will be vaccinated at a site run by local GPs, a hospital or a specialist children’s centre. In cases where this isn’t possible, local arrangements are in place with community pharmacies, vaccination centres, hospital hubs, housebound teams and in some cases at special schools.
Families can find a time for their child to be vaccinated by calling 119 or finding a walk-in site using the NHS’ online finder. Not every walk-in site is able to offer vaccination for 5 to 11-year-olds, so please visit the website to make sure you choose the right site.
Vaccination services have made preparations to vaccinate children in this cohort, considering necessary adjustments to make sites child-friendly and ensure children and their families have a positive experience.
When attending their appointment, children must have a letter, text message or email from a GP or hospital specialist confirming that they are eligible for a booster dose.
This communication may have been sent to them directly, to their parent or guardian, or to the person with a weakened immune system if they are eligible as a household contact.
If you or your child have not been contacted but you think they are eligible, please contact your GP surgery.FAQs
Please find answers to some common FAQs about the Spring COVID-19 vaccine booster programme below.
Why are some people being invited for a Spring booster?
COVID-19 is more serious in older people and those with a weakened immune system. Protection from the vaccine for these groups may be lower and may decline more quickly. For this reason, people aged 75 and over, those in care homes for older adults and those aged 12 and over with a weakened immune system are being offered the Spring booster.
Why is the interval for Spring boosters three to six months?
The NHS is working to get everyone who needs a Spring booster vaccinated by the end of June. There is flexibility to ensure that no matter when someone is due their vaccination, they can access it within this window.
Will individuals be expected to get more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the future?
The NHS will be delivering a Spring booster to those who are most vulnerable. The NHS is also preparing to deliver an Autumn dose of the vaccine, but whether this happens will depend on future recommendations from the JCVI.
Why are no other groups being invited to come forward for a Spring booster?
The NHS vaccinates people in line with recommendations from the JCVI, as accepted by government.
What adjustments are being made to support people who are severely immunosuppressed attending walk-in vaccination appointments?
Vaccination sites have been asked to ensure that appropriate arrangements and reasonable adjustments are in place, such as priority lanes, to support people who are less able to queue, including those in higher-risk groups.
The NHS has produced a poster highlighting that staff should ensure people who are at risk, alongside other priority groups, have their wait time reduced.
I have recently recovered from COVID-19, do I still need to get vaccinated?
Yes. You still need to get a booster dose of the vaccine for extra protection, even if you have had COVID-19.
If you recently recovered from the virus, you will need to wait before getting any dose of the vaccine. People will need to wait:
- 4 weeks (28 days) for those aged 18 or over, or under 18 and considered to be in a high-risk group
12 weeks (84 days) for those aged under 18 and not considered to be in a high-risk group
How can someone report an issue if they are struggling to access the vaccinations they need?
If an individual encounters a problem when trying to get a COVID-19 vaccine, it is important they report it so that the NHS can resolve the issue and improve services to prevent it happening again. There are a number of ways you can provide feedback or make a complaint. Information about how to contact NHS England is available here on their website.