For the 2022 autumn booster programme, the primary objective is to augment immunity in those at higher risk from COVID-19 and thereby optimise protection against severe COVID-19, specifically hospitalisation and death, over winter 2022 to 2023.
Accordingly, JCVI advises that for the 2022 autumn booster programme, the following groups should be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine:
- residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
- frontline health and social care workers
- all adults aged 50 years and over
- persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, as set out in the Green Book, chapter 14a, tables 3 and 4
- persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers, as set out in the Green Book, chapter 14a, table 3
In order to optimise protection over the winter months, the autumn programme should aim to complete vaccinations by the start of December 2022. Operational flexibility will apply in relation to vaccine supply, promotion of vaccine uptake and prioritisation for vaccination according to underlying risk of severe COVID-19.
It is not the intention of JCVI that the 2022 COVID-19 autumn booster programme should disrupt or delay deployment of the annual influenza immunisation programme. Both programmes are important for individual and public health, especially over the coming winter. Where operationally expedient, COVID-19 and influenza vaccines may be co-administered.
- Recommendation
- Europe
- United Kingdom
- COVID-19
