Spring 2024 Covid-19 vaccination campaign launches for the most vulnerable people in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland

This week, the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) has begun the next phase of its Covid-19 vaccination programme in an effort to protect those whose immunity is most likely to have already reduced since their autumn vaccine.

The spring vaccination programme enables those most in need of an extra boost to their immunity to get topped up. The eligible cohorts this spring includes residents in care homes for older people, those aged 75 and over and immunosuppressed individuals aged 6 months and over.

Housebound patients and those living in care homes will be amongst the first to receive their top-ups with teams starting to administer vaccines from Monday 15 April 2024. They will continue to vaccinate in care homes across LLR throughout May and June.

All eligible people will be invited for a vaccination by the NHS. Appointments can be booked from Monday 15 April 2024 with vaccine appointments being available from 22 April onwards. Bookings can be made using the National Booking service website or by calling 119. In LLR we also have the benefit of an online local walk-in clinic finder and a roving healthcare unit that offers mobile vaccination clinics across the city and counties on a walk-in basis. A full schedule of all available clinics can be found here.

Anyone who believes they should be eligible for a vaccine can check with their GP practice or by clicking here. There must also be a gap of at least three months between Covid-19 vaccinations, the NHS App provides details of all previous Covid-19 vaccinations.

In LLR people can access their Covid-19 vaccines via their GP practice, community pharmacies or walk-in clinics. The Leicester Royal Infirmary will also be providing vaccination clinics for immunosuppressed children aged 6 months to 11 years of age which can all be booked using the National Booking System or by calling 119.

Dr Fahreen Dhanji, GP, and clinical lead for the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland said: “It’s really important that anyone who is eligible gets vaccinated, to top-up their protection against Covid-19 this spring. The immunity you have built up from previous vaccinations reduces over time so it’s important to boost your protection regularly.

“Getting vaccinated will provide the best possible protection against Covid-19, and it really does help to protect the most vulnerable from becoming seriously unwell. Older people and those with weakened immune systems are affected more by Covid-19 and it’s why we’re encouraging them to get vaccinated as soon as possible. If you are unsure if you are eligible visit our website or drop in to one of our mobile vaccination clinics and speak to our vaccination team.”