People aged over 50 in Staffordshire will be offered a Covid booster vaccine this autumn to top-up their immunity and reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill.

Last week, the government announced that the autumn Covid booster will be made available to people aged 50 and over following advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Those eligible for a further dose will be:

• all adults aged 50 years and over
• those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women
• those aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• those aged 16 to 49 years who are carers
• residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
• frontline health and social care workers

The NHS will announce when and how eligible groups will be able to book an appointment in due course.

Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Support Member for Public Health and Integrated Care, Paul Northcott, said: "Vaccination remains our best defence against Covid, and I urge anybody who is eligible to come forward for the autumn booster as soon as you are invited by the NHS.

"Viruses spread more easily in the colder seasons, so it is vital that our most vulnerable residents receive a booster vaccine to strengthen their immunity and reduce pressure on the NHS"

Full information on the autumn Covid booster can be found at www.gov.uk/government/news/over-50s-to-be-offered-covid-19-booster-and-flu-jab-this-autumn