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Booster injections invitations are being sent to more than a million people to “strengthen the wall of defense” against the coronavirus created by vaccines.
People will receive texts from Monday, while letters will be sent to those who are eligible later in the week, NHS England said.
Some 1.5 million people will be contacted and encouraged to use the national reservation service.
NHS England said vaccination of children aged 12 to 15 would also start “shortly”.
People eligible for recalls include anyone aged 50 and over, people living and working in nursing homes, and frontline health and social service workers.
Anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone between the ages of 16 and 65 in a group at risk for Covid (who were included in priority groups one through nine during the initial vaccine rollout) will also be eligible for a jab.
The Joint Committee on Immunization and Immunization (JCVI) said people should receive their booster dose at least six months after receiving their second coronavirus vaccine.
While there is a preference for people to receive the Pfizer jab as a third dose, regardless of which jab they were initially given, the JCVI said half doses of the Moderna jab could be used as an alternative. .
There are also recall campaigns in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Health and Social Affairs Secretary Sajid Javid said: “It is great that getting your callback reminder has now become even easier thanks to the opening of the National Reservation Service to eligible people.
“Booster doses are an important way to keep the virus under control over the long term and will protect the most vulnerable during the winter months.
“I urge anyone who receives a letter or text to receive their vaccine as soon as possible so that we can strengthen the wall of defense across the country that each vaccine brings.”
Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and Deputy Head of the Covid Vaccination Program, said: “The NHS Covid Vaccination Program has already prevented 24 million cases and saved over 112,000 lives.
“As we head into winter, we shouldn’t let our guard down, so I urge everyone to come forward and get their booster shots when prompted.
“Getting a complementary vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from this cruel virus. “
People who receive an invitation can make an appointment at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination, and those who cannot log in can call 119.
Millions more invitations are due to be issued in the days and weeks to come, NHS England said.
The NHS officially launched its coronavirus recall campaign on Thursday, as hospitals began to sting frontline health and care workers.
NHS England said local health teams will prioritize residents and staff of eligible nursing homes – and offer a booster shot by early November.
The stepped-up vaccination campaign comes as restrictions on international travel are set to be relaxed, amid warnings from some experts that “let our guard down” may see new variations arriving.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced on Friday that the traffic light system was to be replaced from October 4 with a single “red list” of reduced destinations, and that those who are fully vaccinated will no longer need a test before departure before returning from destinations outside the red list.
From the end of October, they will be able to replace the second day PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow test.
But Lawrence Young, professor of molecular oncology at the University of Warwick, said: “Lowering our guard runs the risk of introducing a new variant into the country, such as the mu variant first identified in Colombia, this which could reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. “
The Scottish government has said it will ditch the traffic light system, but will not follow England on testing requirements.
The Welsh government has said it will consider the changes proposed by the UK government, but Health Minister Eluned Morgan has warned they could “weaken the line of defense against the importation of infections”.
In Northern Ireland, the traffic light system will change from 4 October, with a single ‘red list’ of destinations, while proposed changes to pre-departure and post-arrival testing will be discussed by Stormont ministers. next week.
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