London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 26, 2025

Omicron: When can I have a booster jab and how do I book one?

Omicron: When can I have a booster jab and how do I book one?

The New Year booster target has been met across the UK, according to government ministers.

The goal of offering all eligible adults a booster by 31 December was in response to the Omicron variant. Other measures include approval for a low-dose vaccine to be offered to vulnerable primary school children.

When can I have a booster?


In England boosters are available to over-18s - three months after the second dose. (Boosters can be booked after two months).

Some walk-in appointments may be available - depending on where you live.

In Scotland boosters can be booked online.

In Wales people should wait to be invited, with older and higher-risk people being prioritised.

In Northern Ireland people aged 18 to 29 can go to walk-in hubs, and make booster appointments.

Why do I need a booster?


Early studies from UK researchers suggest a booster vaccine - on top of the first two jabs - will provide 80-85% protection against Omicron (compared with 97% against Delta).

More antibodies are developed thanks to the booster, giving the body stronger defences against the virus.

It makes it harder for Omicron to infect the body, although current vaccines are still not a perfect match.

What vaccine will I get for my booster?


Your booster will be a single dose of either Pfizer or Moderna - regardless of which vaccine you received before.

If you tested positive for Covid recently, you should wait four weeks (28 days) from the date of the test before having your booster.

You shouldn't have the booster if you have a severe illness or high fever, but Pfizer and Moderna say a mild fever or a cold are not reasons to delay.

The vaccines do not give you an infection and will not cause positive results on a lateral flow or PCR test.

Which children are being vaccinated?


A low-dose version of the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for five to 11-year-olds with health conditions that put them at greater risk from catching Covid.

Primary school children who live with clinically vulnerable adults should also be offered a jab, government vaccine advisers said.

It is not yet clear when children would get the doses.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation also recommended the normal booster dose should be offered to children aged:

*  16 and 17
*  12 to 15 if they are in an at-risk group or live with someone who is immunosuppressed
*  12 to 15 who have a severely weakened immune system, who should get four doses

All children aged 12 and over are being offered two doses of the Pfizer jab. They can usually have a second dose 12 weeks after the first.

Is the Covid vaccine compulsory?


Not in the UK, although a number of European countries have tightened restrictions for the unvaccinated.

However, all front-line NHS staff in England (with some exceptions) must be fully vaccinated by 1 April.

Care home staff in England must already be vaccinated (unless exempt).

Across the UK, Covid passports are required to enter some venues.

What if I haven't had my first or second vaccine?


You can still book your first or second jab. You need to wait eight weeks between the first and second.

In particular, the government wants unvaccinated pregnant women to come forward.

*  In England, bookings for over-12s can be made online, by calling 119, or visiting a walk-in clinic
*  In Scotland, over-16s can register for their first or second vaccine online, or by calling 0800 030 8013
*  In Wales, adults can contact their local health board
*  In Northern Ireland, you can book online or call 0300 200 7813; walk-in centres are open to older teenagers

What about side effects?


The most common ones include a sore arm, headache, chills, fatigue and nausea.

They are part of the body's normal immune response to vaccines and tend to resolve within a day or two.

There are extremely rare, but occasionally fatal, cases of people developing blood clots after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine.

And a very small number of people have experienced a severe allergic reaction after the Pfizer vaccine.

You should discuss any existing serious allergies with your healthcare professional before being vaccinated.


Why it is normal for some people to experience short-term side effects from Covid-19 vaccines


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
×