The NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in the East of England has vaccinated more than 300,000 of the most at-risk people in England with a spring covid jab, since the programme launched last month.

As of Thursday 11 May, the NHS in East of England has vaccinated over 300,000 people during this booster campaign, including more than 20,000 care home residents, representing over 60% of all those eligible in just over five weeks.

Around 860,000 people in the east of England are eligible in line with advice from the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which includes over-75s, people aged five and over with weakened immune systems and care home residents.

The NHS, now in its 75th year, has administered more than 146 million covid jabs over several vaccination campaigns since Maggie Keenan became the first in the world, outside of a clinical trial, to receive the vaccination in December 2020.

Catherine Morgan, the NHS’s Chief Nurse in the East of England, said: “NHS staff and volunteers continue to work at pace to offer protection to the most vulnerable and have now delivered more than three hundred thousand spring covid jabs since the campaign launched on the 3^rd of April.

“As a result, these patients continue to have vital protection from covid every day. If you’re eligible but still haven’t come forward yet for your covid vaccination, please book your spring booster as soon as possible.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Our covid vaccination programme has saved tens of thousands of lives and continues to be a huge success, with over two million people – including over half of all care home residents – getting their booster.

“Getting your vaccine couldn’t be easier with thousands of sites open across the country, and I would urge anyone eligible to come forward as soon as possible.”

This latest vaccination, is being offered to those considered most at risk, following advice from the JCVI. Those invited should make sure their appointment takes place at least three months since their last dose. Anyone who believes they should be eligible for a vaccine but does not get invited can check online. Alternatively, they can self-declare via the National Booking Service and then speak to a clinician on site.

The last spring vaccination appointments will be offered on 30 June.

Covid-19 vaccinations for everyone who was aged 5 on or before 31 August 2022 will also end after that date, following recent advice from the JCVI. After 30 June, the NHS offer will become more targeted to those at increased risk, usually during seasonal campaigns.

There are more than 400 sites available for the spring vaccine across the east of England, with most appointments being delivered in communities by pharmacies and GPs.