As the NHS commences Covid booster vaccination programme this week one and a half million people will be sent invitations to book a place.
Texts and letters will be sent this week for people to arrange a top-up through the National Booking Service.
People who have had their second vaccine at least six months ago are eligible for the booster jab.
Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and deputy lead for the Covid vaccination programme, said: “As we head into winter we should not drop our guard so I would urge everyone to come forward and get a booster vaccination when then they are invited.
“Getting a top-up vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from this cruel virus”.
The NHS Covid vaccination programme has already delivered more than 77 million vaccinations, preventing 24 million cases and saving more than 112,000 lives in the UK.
Health secretary Sajid Javid said: “Booster doses are an important way of keeping the virus under control for the long term and will protect the most vulnerable through the winter months.”
The booster jab programme will be conducted following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advisory issued last week.
Hospital hubs have already started vaccinating frontline health and care workers with GP-led local vaccination services already contacting eligible patients.
The programme will ramp up further over the coming days as more vaccination centres and pharmacy-led clinics come online.
