Around 450,000 Dorset residents are being encouraged to sign up for Covid-19 booster jabs and give their immunity a lift before the worst of the winter sets in
The autumn drive to boost immunity against Covid-19 is under way, with a large initial take-up in Dorset.
Thousands of people have received their jab since the autumn booster programme kicked off at the start of September, 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. 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 and over; people aged 5-49 in a clinical risk group; people aged 5-49 who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression; and people aged 16-49 who are carers.

This winter will be the first time the effects of both Covid-19 and flu in full circulation will be apparent as people go about life as normal, and some sites will offer jabs against both at the same time.

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 to get a Covid-19 jab and how to book it is available on the Covid-19 vaccination webpages www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/covid-19-vaccination-service#1a98bfd1.
Bookings can be made via the National Booking System www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination or by calling 119.