CARVIS.KR

Millions of Brits are being invited to get an autumn Covid booster jab from today amid spiralling virus hospitalisations.

Around 20million people in England are eligible for the booster this year, including over-65s, pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions.

They have been urged to book their vaccination appointment — during which they will also be offered a flu jab — through the NHS website, app or by calling 119.

Officials brought forward the rollout by an entire month due to the spread of the highly mutated Pirola Covid variant, which experts fear could trigger a spike in infections and hospitalisations. 

Latest data shows that the number of infected Brits admitted to hospital in England is at a four-month high, with the toll doubling in the space of a month.   











In a bid to 'go back to normal', invites won't be dished out to millions aged 50-64 who were eligible during the pandemic





It comes as Covid hospitalisations have soared to a four-month high in England. Some 3,287 infected people were admitted in the week to September 8, which is the highest figure logged since the week to April 28 (3,485). The toll has also nearly doubled in a month, compared to the 1,804 in NHS beds with Covid in the week to August 4

Health chiefs say all of those eligible will be offered a Covid booster by the end of October in response to the 'risk of the new variant'.

The autumn rollout began last week, with care home residents and housebound people the first to get top-up Covid and flu jabs.

Hundreds of thousands of those included in the rollout will begin receiving invitations from the health service this week, encouraging them to come forward. 

As well as care home residents and housebound people, the over-65s, frontline health and social care workers and carers are also eligible for Covid and flu vaccines.

People aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group will also be invited.