People in Dorset have already taken up the invitation to have their Covid-19 booster jab.

Since the autumn booster programme kicked off at the start of September, 22,000 people have received their jab including some of the most at risk residents who are housebound or live in a care home.

Nearly everyone in Dorset has a vaccination site within 20 miles of where they live with skilled vaccination teams from across the NHS working together to administer the life-saving vaccine. Sites include vaccination centres, community pharmacies and GP practices.

In Dorset 450,000 people are eligible for the autumn booster, including:

• Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
• Frontline health and social care workers
• All adults aged 50 years and over
• People aged five-49 years in a clinical risk group
• People aged five-49 who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• People aged 16-49 years who are carers

Dorset HealthCare says this winter will be the first time we see the real effects of both Covid and flu in full circulation as we go about life as normal. For everyone – particularly those most susceptible to serious illness – getting the vaccinations for both viruses will help to boost immunity during the colder months.

Some of the sites will offer people to have both jabs at the same time to save you travelling twice. If you take up this offer but have your other jab booked elsewhere, please remember to cancel so someone else can take your slot. To cancel an appointment, use the same service you used to book it.

Ravin Ramtohal, lead GP for the vaccination programme across Dorset said: “Getting your Covid and flu vaccines are two of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others around you safe this winter.

“Anyone who is invited to take up both an autumn booster and flu jab, is encouraged to do so as soon as you can to give maximum protection.”

Eligible people may be contacted in several ways including a national NHS letter, NHS text message, by their GP and/or by their employer (for health and social care workers).

Information on where you can get your Covid-19 jab and how you can book it is available on the Covid-19 vaccination webpages https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/covid-19-vaccination-service#1a98bfd1

You can book via the National Booking System https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ or by calling 119.