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Eligibility for the vaccine

Wales is following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice on who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. This advice is based on evidence on who is most at risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19.  

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People most at risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 are eligible for a vaccination this spring. 

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 can help reduce preventable death and serious illness. Protect yourself and your health and social care services. 

People at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19 infection will be offered a COVID-19 vaccination between April and June. We recommend that you have your vaccination as soon as it is offered to you. 

This offer of a spring dose will end on 30 June 2024. 

Spring vaccination

The JCVI have said that a COVID-19 spring vaccine should be offered to: 

  • people aged 75 and older;
  • residents in care homes for older people; and
  • those aged six months and over who have a weakened immune system. 
Why do some people need a spring vaccination?

•    Like some other vaccines, levels of protection may begin to reduce over time. The spring dose will help protect you for longer. 
•    It will also help to reduce the risk of you needing to go to hospital due to COVID-19 infection.

When will the spring vaccine be given?

•    If you are eligible for a spring dose it will be offered between April and June, around six months (and not before three months) after your last dose of vaccine. If you will be turning 75 between April and June you will be called for your vaccination during the programme - you do not need to wait for your birthday. 

How will I get my vaccination? 

•    The NHS will contact you to let you know when and where to have the vaccine. It’s important to attend the appointment when invited.
•    If you can’t attend, please let the booking team know so they can give your appointment to someone else. The team’s contact details are on the appointment letter.

Adults

In Wales, all adults aged 18 and over were offered a primary course (normally two doses) and one booster dose of the vaccine. The offer of an initial two-dose primary course and a booster dose for everyone has now ended. 

People who have not yet had a primary course of COVID-19 

The two-dose universal primary course offer ended on 30 June 2023. From this date, only those who meet the eligibility criteria for a COVID-19 vaccination continue to be eligible for a primary course. 

The primary course now consists of a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have a weakened immune system, you may need to have more than a single dose. Speak to your GP or practice nurse, who will be able to discuss with you the number of doses to have. 

COVID-19 vaccination for travel 

Covid-19 vaccinations are no longer offered for travel purposes.  

Foreign travel advice is available at: Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (external site).

Children and young people 

Children aged six months and over who are at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19 will be offered the vaccination. 

For more information, go to:  

Green Book COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  (external site)
Covid-19-vaccination-programme (GOV.WALES)  (external site)


COVID-19 vaccination and severe immunosuppression 

People who are or become severely immunosuppressed (have a very weakened immune system because of a health condition or medical treatment) may not have a good immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine.    

An additional dose of vaccine should be considered. 

  • If you have not received any previous COVID-19 vaccines or have recently become severely immunosuppressed then you should be considered for your first dose of vaccine, regardless of the time of year 

  • If you have previously received a COVID-19 vaccination and have become severely immunosuppressed then you should be considered for an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccination, three months after your last dose, regardless of the time of year 

The additional dose aims to increase your levels of protection until the next seasonal campaign. Severely immunosuppressed people may be eligible for further seasonal boosters in line with JCVI advice.  

For more information, go to: 

Green Book COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  

Covid-19-vaccination-programme (GOV.WALES)