The North West’s lead clinician for COVID-19 vaccination is encouraging people to come forward for their booster doses before the offer, part of the biggest and most successful programme in health history, ends next month.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that, thanks to the success of the programme, the offer of an initial booster dose should end when the current autumn campaign ends, which will be on Sunday 12 February.

Anyone yet to come forward for their covid booster is being urged to do so before the end of the campaign.

The Government has accepted the JCVI advice, which recommends that the booster offer for all 16 to 49-year-olds who are not considered at risk should end at the same time as this autumn’s campaign.

This means that Sunday 12 February will be the last chance for anyone who has been invited for an initial covid booster or seasonal autumn booster to take up their offer, until future campaigns are agreed by JCVI and Government.

It comes as the JCVI is recommending moving to a more targeted offer to those considered to be at risk of serious illness.

The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme has delivered more than 17 million doses of the vaccine in the North West since launching in December 2020.

Professor Richard Preece, Regional Medical Director for Mass Vaccination Programmes for NHS England – North West, said: “Our residents have widespread protection from COVID-19 and its variants thanks to the success of the vaccination programme to date.

“Following the decision by the Government to accept JCVI advice, I would encourage anyone who has not yet had their covid booster to book an appointment in the next couple of weeks and make the most of the offer available

“Once the NHS receives updated guidance for the next phase of the vaccination programme, our fantastic NHS staff will make sure the vaccine is as accessible and convenient to those eligible as it has been in each of the previous campaigns.”

The JCVI will set out further guidance on who will be eligible for covid vaccines in future phases of the programme, such as any spring campaign as well as next autumn’s, in due course.

The JCVI has advised that over the course of 2023 the primary course offer for healthy 16 to 49-year-olds should be withdrawn in favour of a more targeted approach.

The NHS will continue to operate a smaller scale vaccine offer from mid-February onwards to ensure those eligible for first and second doses can still get their jabs.

Th NHS is also prepared to move quickly to roll out a potential spring campaign, as well as another autumn campaign later this year, and will set out operational plans once further guidance is received.