COVID-19 vaccines and immunodeficiency
On this webpage you will find information and FAQs about COVID-19 vaccines.
Spring 2024 COVID-19 vaccination programme (posted 26th March 2024)
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has published the eligibility criteria for the Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme.
We encourage you to take up the offer of the Spring booster as it will help reduce the chances of you developing severe COVID-19 disease.
Eligibility
The JCVI has advised that a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to:
- Adults aged 75 years and over
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in tables 3 or 4 (pages 23-26) in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book) and includes people affected by primary and secondary immunodeficiency.
Please note that people under 75 years old living in the household of an immunosuppressed person will not be offered a free vaccination.
Dates:
- England: 15 April (care homes), 22 April (all other cohorts) – 30 June: Getting a COVID-19 vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Wales: 1 April – 30 June, some flexibility into July: COVID-19 spring booster 2024 (WHC/2024/009) [HTML] | GOV.WALES. The more public-facing information page on COVID-19 vaccinations has yet to be updated but the information should be posted at COVID-19 vaccination information – Public Health Wales (nhs.wales).
- Scotland – no specific dates given but information is available at Spring coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine | NHS inform
- Northern Ireland – no specific dates given and the website page has yet to be updated with information but the information should be posted at Get a COVID-19 vaccination in Northern Ireland | nidirect.
Private vaccines will be available for the first time from April 2024 Local private Covid vaccination service – Pharmadoctor.
For the latest on access to lateral tests and access to COVID-19 treatments visit our website at Access to COVID-19 treatments – Immunodeficiency UK.
How many doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have people with weakened immune systems been offered?
The COVID-19 vaccine schedule for eligible groups has been:
- 1st primary dose, from around Jan 2021
- 2nd primary dose, from around April 2021
- 3rd primary dose, from around September 2021
- 4th dose (1st booster), from around January 2022
- 5th dose (Spring 2022 booster), from around April 2022
- 6th dose (Autumn 2022 booster), from around September 2022
- 7th dose (Spring 2023 booster), from around April 2023
- 8th dose (Autumn 2023 booster), from around September 2023
Frequently asked questions
Updated March 2023