Seasonal Covid-19 vaccination update

This autumn, the NHS is offering a Covid-19 vaccine to people at high risk of severe disease and who are therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination. 

The clinical risk for severe disease is higher for older people and people with a suppressed immune system. You can be immunosuppressed as a result of an underlying condition, or because of medication you are taking.

Some of the medications that may cause immunosuppression are used in MS. They include Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), Kesimpta (ofatumumab), rituximab, and steroids such as prednisolone if you've taken them for longer than a month. 

These are the groups who will be offered a Covid-19 booster vaccine this autumn:

• all adults aged 75 years and over
• all residents in a care home for older adults
• all people aged over 6 months who are immunosuppressed – more information on who is defined as immunosuppressed can be found in the Covid-19 chapter of the Green Book.

If you're still not sure whether your health conditions or medications put you are risk of severe disease with Covid-19, check with your GP or MS team.

The group of people being offered the Covid-19 booster this year is smaller than previously. These changes have been made on the advice of independent experts in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Immunity to Covid-19 has been increasing in the general population over the last four years. This is due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following infection with Covid-19, and vaccine-acquired immunity. 

As a result, for most people, Covid-19 is now a relatively mild disease – though it can still be unpleasant. The risk of hospitalisation and death have reduced significantly. This is why the focus of the booster programme has shifted to targeting the two groups of individuals who continue to be at a higher risk of serious disease.

If you're eligible for the autumn Covid-19 vaccine, you can:

• book a Covid-19 vaccination appointment online or in the NHS App
• go to a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination site

You do not need to wait for an invitation before booking an appointment. Research has shown no increased risk of MS relapse after having a Covid-19 vaccine.

Covid-19 Immunisation Green Book: Written by the UK Health Security Agency as a handbook for health professionals to support the response to Covid-19.

Covid-19 vaccination NHS: Advice from the NHS on the current plans for future vaccinations.

Coronavirus, Covid-19 and multiple sclerosis: Our main information page on the pandemic.

Covid-19 vaccines and boosters for people with MS: Our update on Covid-19 vaccines and boosters.