A spring booster vaccine for Covid-19 is set to be offered to people aged 75 and over in England and Wales this spring.

Additionally, those in care homes and vulnerable people aged five and over will also be offered it.

BBC News reports that vaccinations in England and Wales are to start in early April, with Northern Ireland's rollout from mid-April.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's (JCVI) Covid-19 committee, said: “Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself against Covid-19 and the spring booster programme provides an opportunity for those who are at [the] highest risk of severe illness to keep their immunity topped up.

Salisbury Journal: England and Wales will have their vaccine booster campaign be offered in AprilEngland and Wales will have their vaccine booster campaign be offered in April (Image: PA)

“This year’s spring programme will bridge the gap to the planned booster programme in the autumn, enabling those who are most vulnerable to be well protected throughout the summer.”

What dates will Covid booster campaign be rolled out?

In England, the NHS is expected to offer the booster from April 17 to June 30, with it being offered to people around six months after their previous dose.

The JCVI said it has advised that certain groups of people should be offered the vaccinations, with options including the Pfizer, Moderna, Sanofi/GSK jabs.

The Novavax jab will also be available for use only when alternatives are not considered clinically suitable.

Meanwhile, children under 12 will be offered a children’s formulation of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Covid-19 is still circulating widely, and we have recently seen increases in older people being hospitalised.

“It is important those at highest risk of severe illness do not become complacent and I would encourage everyone who is eligible to come forward once the booster programme starts.”