Nearly 650,000 eligible people across our health region of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) can book their life-saving autumn Covid vaccine online from today (18 September) as the NHS steps up its winter vaccination programmes early in response to the risk of the new Covid variant.

Anyone eligible can book their Covid vaccination via the NHS website www.nhs.uk , by downloading the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free if they can’t get online – including all aged 65 and over, pregnant women and those with an underlying health condition.

GP practices and other local NHS services will also be contacting people to offer both flu and Covid vaccines, and people can book the flu vaccine by searching online for a local pharmacy.

Covid vaccination for those aged under 18 years will begin later in the year – the NHS will let eligible families know when this offer opens.

This year’s adult Covid and flu vaccination programme has been brought forward on the advice of scientists following the emergence of a new Covid variant (BA.2.86), which has a high number of mutations.

Health chiefs have ensured there is enough capacity to offer the flu and Covid vaccines to all those eligible by the end of October, reflecting the risk of the new variant.

Alongside this, our NHS staff have worked hard to prepare for the earlier start of the programme, with over 130 sites in BOB taking part in the campaign this year to make it as easy and convenient as possible for people to get protection.

Chief Nursing Officer, Rachael Corser said: “Vaccines are our best protection against flu and Covid, and I strongly encourage all eligible people to come forward for their lifesaving winter vaccines as soon as they can.

“The new Covid variant presents a new risk, but our NHS staff are rising to the challenge once more to do all they can to protect the public.

“Those eligible can now easily book a Covid vaccine online – it takes just a few minutes and there are lots of sites offering the vaccine across BOB so please come forward as soon as you can to give yourself and your loved one’s vital protection over the coming months.”

The NHS winter flu and Covid vaccination programme provides vital protection to those eligible and their families over winter, keeping people from developing serious illnesses, and helping to minimise hospitalisations during busy winter months.

People eligible during this year’s vaccination campaign include all aged 65 and over, care home residents, frontline health and social care staff, those at increased risk because they are pregnant or have a certain underlying health condition, unpaid carers and household contacts of those at risk.

It is important for those who are eligible to top up their protection, even if they have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or Covid before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.

On 11 September, care home residents and people who are housebound began receiving their covid and flu vaccinations with visits from their local NHS team.