Dr David Vickers, medical director, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, which delivers the large scale vaccination centres across Norfolk and Waveney said:

“People eligible for a booster i.e. those aged over 40 and those at higher risk from Covid-19 will be able to access their booster vaccination three months (91 days) after their second dose from Saturday 11 December via our large scale vaccination centres, subject to the national protocol being available. This decision will enable thousands more people to get protected earlier”.

“To ensure as many eligible people as possible can access these boosters in a planned and managed way, all boosters should be booked via the National Booking Service at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine - our walk-in services for boosters will close with effect from midnight on Friday 10 December 2021 and until then will only deliver boosters on a walk-in basis for those eligible people who have had their 2^nd vaccination six months ago.”

“All other eligible groups can continue to access their 1^st, 2^nd and third vaccinations via our walk-in services.”

“We are actively finalising arrangements to extend opening hours in some of our centres to deliver even more capacity and we will share this information in the coming days.”

In line with new JCVI advice, those aged 18-39 will also be eligible for a booster when the NHS calls them forward and the Government has set a target to offer boosters to these age groups by the end of January 2022.

As with the first jabs, people will be notified by age group, with the older and more clinically vulnerable receiving their jabs first.”

Dr Vickers added: 

“This is the biggest change in eligibility since the programme was launched.  We strongly encourage people who are eligible to come forward for their booster or vaccination.  The vast majority of those being hospitalised with serious illness from Covid-19 are those who have not been vaccinated. 

“Vaccines are the best way to protect yourselves and your loved ones and reducing covid-related hospital admissions will help the NHS cope better during the winter months and reduce disruption to routine and planned care.”

Further information on walk-in vaccination services is available at https://www.norfolkandwaveneyccg.nhs.uk/covid-19-vaccination-programme

End

Editors notes:

Large scale vaccination centres are open seven days a week (other than Dereham) for walk-in clinics at the following locations.  From Saturday 11 December 2021 it will not be possible to access booster vaccinations on a walk-in basis:

• Paddock Road Surgery, Paddock Road, Harleston IP20 9AT

• Connaught Hall, Station Rd, Attleborough NR17 2AS

• Shakespeare Barn, King's Lynn Arts Centre, King Street, Kings Lynn PE30 1HA

• Castle Quarter Shopping Centre, 100 Castle Meadow, Norwich NR1 3DD
• Beetley Ward, Dereham Hospital, Northgate, Dereham NR19 2EX is (open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)

Who is currently eligible for a booster jab by appointment only from Saturday 11 December three months after their second jab:

• people aged 40 and over
• people who live and work in care homes
• frontline health and social care workers
• people aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19
• people aged 16 and over who are a main carer for someone at high risk from COVID-19
• people aged 16 and over who live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
• People who are pregnant and in 1 of the eligible groups can also get a booster dose.

The NHS intends to offer every eligible adult an opportunity to book in for their booster jab by the end of January 2022.