Residents of Lancashire and South Cumbria are being encouraged to come forward for their COVID-19 booster before the programme ends next month.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that, thanks to the success of the vaccine programme, the offer of an initial booster dose should end on Sunday 12 February.

This will be the last chance for anyone who has been invited for a COVID-19 booster to take up the offer, until future campaigns are agreed by JCVI and Government. Anyone who hasn’t yet had their first or second vaccination (their primary course) can still come forward, and that offer remains open and will continue beyond next month.

Jane Scattergood, senior responsible officer for the Lancashire and South Cumbria COVID-19 vaccination programme, said: “Over the last two years, the Lancashire and South Cumbria COVID-19 vaccination programme has administered almost 4.4 million doses, helping to ensure that the public have widespread protection from COVID-19 and its variants.

“Following the decision to bring the booster offer to an end, it is still important that people make an appointment in the next couple of weeks if they are still yet to have their booster.

“The JCVI will set out further guidance on who will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in future phases of the programme, and the NHS will make sure the vaccine is as accessible and convenient to those eligible – as it has been in each of the previous campaigns.”

The NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme has delivered 144.5 million doses of the vaccine since December 2020.

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.

To book a COVID-19 booster online, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19