Booster COVID-19 vaccinations update

The Government has now set out further action aimed at tackling rising cases of the COVID-19 B1.617.2 variant of COVID-19 (also known as the Indian variant). 

Appointments for a second dose of a vaccine are being bought forward from 12 to eight weeks for the remaining people in the top nine priority groups who have yet to receive their second dose. This is to ensure people across the UK have the strongest possible protection from the virus at an earlier opportunity.  

Patients should continue to attend their second dose appointment and nobody needs to contact the NHS. UCLH is actively contacting anyone who had their first appointment booked over eight weeks ago via UCLH's COVMIS booking system, and we are encouraging them to move their appointments earlier. This will impact patients who had their first appointment at either University College Hospital or The Francis Crick institute. 

All other patients who booked more than eight weeks ago through the National Booking System will be contacted independently by the NBS. However, they do not need to wait to be contacted before rearranging their own appointment through either the booking website or by phoning 119.

Those aged under 50 will continue to get their first dose, with their second dose at 12 weeks, as has been the deployment strategy so far.