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Spring 2022 booster dose for people with a weakened immune system

Published on: 23 March 2022

The JCVI has advised a further booster dose (fifth dose) for people aged 12 years and over who have a weakened immune system in spring 2022

COVID-19 vaccines

Boosters help to improve the protection you have from your previous doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, they give you longer-term protection against getting seriously ill from COVID-19. The vaccines may reduce your chance of catching COVID-19, and if you do catch COVID-19, the symptoms may be less severe and the illness shorter, than if you had not had them.

Appointments are now available in most nations for eligible people, and will be available throughout the UK by early April. You may be offered an appointment from three months (91 days) after your last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, but try to book an appointment around six months after your last dose to get the best protection from your spring booster. The NHS will invite those eligible for a spring booster dose in all nations. Most adults will be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, with anyone aged between 12 and 18 offered the Pfizer vaccine. 

If you are eligible for a spring booster, but have not had a first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine yet, you should have them as soon as possible. It’s not too late to get any of your vaccinations. If you have a severely weakened immune system you need to get a third dose before you get a booster. If you received your last vaccine (fourth dose) during the spring campaign, you do not need an additional spring dose, but would become eligible during the autumn booster campaign. 

Further details about how you can book your spring 2022 booster in each nation is available on our website. 

We know a lot of people are worried about restrictions easing. Everybody is likely to feel differently about the risk of COVID-19 infection, and measures that can help protect you and others. There are steps you can take to keep yourself safe like washing your hands often, wearing a face covering and opening windows to let fresh air in. People at highest risk of developing severe COVID-19 can also access antiviral medicines should you test positive for COVID-19. 

If it has been six months since your last vaccine dose and you think you are eligible for a spring booster but have not yet received an invite, or if you have concerns about when you should have your spring booster, contact your GP or hospital specialist.