Information about the seasonal booster dose of the vaccine (autumn booster)

A guide for frontline health and social care workers

As a frontline health and social care worker you are more likely to be exposed to the flu and COVID-19 viruses, which can be life threatening. You also care for people who may be at greater risk and it is easy to pass these viruses on. It is essential that all frontline health and social care workers have the best protection against these viruses as we go into winter.

You can have a seasonal booster dose (autumn booster) of the COVID-19 vaccine if you are a frontline health and social care worker, and it’s been at least 3 months since your previous dose.

If you’ve not had a 1st or 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine yet, you should have them as soon as possible.

To get your booster you can book an appointment online or find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site without needing an appointment.

You can get your flu vaccine from your GP surgery or a pharmacy.

Please ensure you take your work ID badge with you.

You can find out more about the seasonal booster and who is eligible in the information below and on the NHS website.

Covid seasonal booster

The autumn vaccination programme has been bought forward. Read the letter from the Department of Health and Social Care for more information.

The following groups should be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine in the autumn of 2023:

  • aged 65 years old or over (you need to be 65 years old by 31 March 2024)
  • aged 6 months to 64 years old and are at increased risk
  • living in a care home for older adults
  • a frontline health or social care worker
  • aged 16 to 64 years old and are a carer
  • aged 12 to 64 years old and live with someone with a weakened immune system

Frontline social care workers

This includes frontline social care workers who provide care closely and regularly to those who are clinically vulnerable.

Those clinically vulnerable to COVID-19 are defined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority groups:

  1. children of any age with severe neuro-disability, severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities (including Down’s syndrome and those on the learning disability register) or immunosuppression
  2. adults who have underlying health conditions leading to greater risk of disease or mortality (more information can be found on the UK Government website)
  3. those of advanced age.

Frontline social care workers include:

  • those working in long-stay residential and nursing care homes or other long-stay care facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of infection and cause high morbidity and mortality
  • social care staff directly involved in the care of clinically vulnerable patients or clients
  • others involved directly in delivering social care such that they and clinically vulnerable patients/ clients are at increased risk of exposure

Flu vaccination eligibility

The following groups are eligible for the flu vaccine:

  • everyone aged 65 years and over
  • everyone under 65 years of age who has a medical condition listed, including children and babies over 6 months of age
  • all pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy
  • all children aged 2 and 3 years (provided they were aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August before flu vaccinations starts in the autumn)
  • all children in primary school
  • some secondary school-aged children (Years 7 to 11)
  • everyone living in a residential or nursing home
  • everyone who receives a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person
  • all those living with someone who has lowered immunity due to disease or treatment
  • all frontline health and social care workers including:
    • a registered residential care or nursing home
    • a registered domiciliary care provider
    • a voluntary managed hospice provider
    • Direct Payment (personal budgets) or Personal Health Budgets, such as Personal Assistants