Over-50s set to be invited for Covid booster and flu jab in England

From Friday, everyone in England aged 50 or over will be able to book their Covid booster and flu jab.

Over-50s in Wales and Northern Ireland are already eligible for both jabs.

The Scottish government says that it will begin inviting 50 to 64-year-olds soon.

But not everyone could book their free vaccination immediately. Up until now, the list of eligible people included:

But now the final cohort in the group, people aged between 50 and 64, are being encouraged to get their jabs.

This is estimated to be about 12 million people.

But experts stress both the current and bivalent vaccines provide good protection from severe illness and hospitalisation from Covid-19.

It is a similar group to the Covid vaccine, but it does not include carers.

But all primary and some secondary school children as well as two to three-year-olds are eligible for a free flu vaccine, and they are already receiving it.

In total, about 33 million people in England are eligible this year.

Over-50s will be able to book an appointment from Friday, with the first Covid slots available from Saturday, and flu ones from Monday.

Previously, the flu vaccine could only be booked over the phone or by going to a pharmacy which offered walk-in appointments.

If you want to have both jabs at the same time, NHS England says you can ask during your first appointment, although it may not be possible.

But if you are successful, then you would need to cancel your second appointment.