The new bivalent vaccine will be rolled out for the Autumn Booster programme in September. NHS staff should begin vaccinating care home residents and people who are housebound in the week beginning 5th September.

The National Booking Service will also open booster bookings that week ahead of the wider rollout, due to start on the 12 September, with the NHS inviting those who are most susceptible to serious illness from COVID-19 and those aged 75 and over to book an appointment from that week.

This BBC article explains more about this new type of vaccine: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62548336

Government leaflets about the booster can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-autumn-booster-resources

A reminder of the groups who are eligible for boosters in the Autumn :

  *   all adults aged 50 years and over

  *   those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women

  *   those aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression

  *   those aged 16 to 49 years who are carers

  *   residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults

If you know of anyone still looking to access their first or second vaccine, you can find out more on the CCG website: https://nhssomerset.nhs.uk/covid-vaccines/