The UK government has made a second Covid booster dose available for the most vulnerable sections of the country's population.
The NHS has begun calling out around five million people who are eligible to get their spring booster jabs from Monday, March 21.
With new sub-variants and hybrids causing a spike in Covid cases, people are being urged to come forward for their next booster if they qualify for it.
Currently, the spring booster campaign is more sections of the population. However, Health Secretary Sajid Javid hinted that more sections of the population might be made eligible for the next dose of the vaccine later this year.
Who is currently eligible for the second booster dose?
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that the second dose should be offered to the most vulnerable section of the population, including people aged over 75 and anyone over 12 who is immunosuppressed.
People who are immunosuppressed include those who:
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have blood cancer (such as leukaemia or lymphoma)
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have a weakened immune system due to a treatment including steroids, chemo or radiotherapy
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have had an organ or bone marrow transplant
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suffer from conditions that put them at very high risk of contracting infections
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have conditions or are under treatment, where specialists have advised them to take the dose
When will the Covid booster jab be available for young people?
The government has hinted that the second Covid booster - the fourth Covid vaccine dose - could be made available to all age groups by the end of the year.
There is no exact date or information on when younger sections of population could be made eligible for the fourth jab, however the idea is currently being discussed by the JCVI.
On the potential future rollout of this second booster, Sajid Javid recently told ITV : "I think at some point they will… their most recent advice is that they think that towards the end of this year, maybe in the autumn, there will be a need to give a lot more people a boost, but I’ll wait for that advice."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said: "I hope you’ve all had your boosters? Well, we’re getting ready for a fourth jab, because we’re going to need it," pointing towards the second booster being made available to everyone soon.
All adults will be offered either Pfizer or Moderna, and those who are aged between between 12 and 18 will all be given the Pfizer vaccine.
How to book an appointment for your spring booster
The NHS will be in touch with everyone who is eligible to get their booster dose.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: "There is no need to contact the NHS – when you are eligible for your ‘spring boost’ of protection, we will be in touch so you can book your appointment at one of hundreds of vaccination sites across the country."
Once you've been invited by the NHS, you can then book your appointment online via the NHS website or by ringing NHS 119.
