Seasonal Covid-19 vaccination offer ends in four weeks

The offer of a seasonal autumn Covid-19 vaccination for eligible people ends on 15 December 2023. Appointments are now available to book your flu and Covid-19 jab at the same time at various locations across Devon.

People in Devon have just four weeks left to protect themselves against Covid-19, before winter. The eligibility for an autumn Covid-19 vaccine is different to the spring vaccination campaign, and local health leaders are concerned that some people may not realise they are entitled to a seasonal Covid-19 vaccine.

Those entitled to a Covid-19 vaccine before 15 December 2023 include:

• Everyone aged 65 and over.
• Household contacts of people who are severely immunosuppressed.
• Paid and unpaid carers.
• People aged 5 and over with underlying health conditions including chronic liver and heart conditions, severe mental illness, learning disabilities, diabetes and pregnant women.
• Health and social care staff.
• People who live in care homes and those who are housebound.

More information and full details of who can have a seasonal Covid-19 vaccine this autumn can be found at www.nhs.uk/wintervaccinations. In addition to being invited by the NHS, people can self-declare that they are entitled to a Covid-19 vaccine by calling 119 for free or using the online national booking service www.nhs.uk/wintervaccinations

Dr Alex Degan, GP and Medical Director for Primary Care at NHS Devon, said: “This is the shortest seasonal Covid-19 vaccination campaign that the NHS has run and we’re concerned people may not realise the cut-off date for vaccination is 15 December – in just four weeks’ time.

“In particular, some groups of people are eligible this autumn who weren’t included in the spring vaccination campaign, including unpaid carers and household contacts of people who are severely immunosuppressed. If you’re in one of these groups and haven’t already been invited for your vaccination by the NHS, you can self-declare using the online national booking service or by calling 119, for free.

“Covid-19 is still here and getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family and the people you care for.”

Getting vaccinated is easy with 35 community pharmacies, GPs and vaccination centres offering bookable appointments across Devon.

We also have some walk-in vaccination clinics available in Devon. Details of all the ways to get vaccinated are here:

If you can’t get online, you can call 119 for free to book an appointment. You now also book your flu vaccination at the same appointment, at several vaccination centres across Devon, including Home Park in Plymouth, Greendale in Exeter and at Tesco in Barnstaple. Flu vaccines can also be booked directly through your GP practice or local pharmacy (for adults).

While flu and Covid-19 are unpleasant illnesses for most people, they can be very dangerous and even life threatening for some, particularly people with certain health conditions, older people and pregnant women. Every winter, thousands die from flu and people can still become very ill or die from Covid-19.