People aged 40-49 years old in NHS Forth Valley are being urged to use the NHS Inform online portal or the national vaccination helpline to book their Covid-19 booster appointments.

Appointments are available during December 2021 and should continue to be booked at least 24 weeks after the second dose until the arrangements to introduce the new JCVI guidance have been put in place. This will see boosters being offered to people aged 18 to 39 and reduce the interval between doses to three months.

16 and 17-year-olds can also now use the national booking portal on NHS Inform to book an appointment for their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine as long as least 12 weeks have passed since they received their first dose. However, anyone in this age group who has tested positive for Covid-19 since having their first dose should wait for 12 weeks after their positive test result before getting their second dose.

The national booking portal is already open for the 50 – 59 age group, unpaid carers who are 16 and over, and those aged 16 and over who are household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals. Anyone in these groups who has not yet received their Covid-19 booster vaccine is being encouraged to the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013 to book an appointment as soon as possible.

Where possible, people will also be offered their flu vaccine at the same time as their Covid-19 booster to avoid the need for two separate appointments. People are also asked to avoid turning up early for their Covid-19 vaccination appointment to help maintain physical distancing, avoid queues from developing and ensure local vaccination clinics run as effectively and smoothly as possible.

Fiona Coan, NHS Forth Valley’s Immunisation Team Manager, said: said: “The expansion of the Covid-19 vaccine booster to those aged 40-49 marks another significant milestone in the roll out of the booster vaccination programme.

“Boosters are just as important as the initial vaccinations as immunity levels wane over time with increasing risk of further infection. The booster dose improves your level of protection significantly and is the best way to protect your health and those around you. I therefore would urge everyone aged over 40 to arrange their booster appointment via the national booking portal or vaccination helpline as soon as possible.

“I also want to encourage 16 and 17-year-olds across Forth Valley to use the national booking portal to book an appointment for their second dose forward to help protect themselves, their families and friends and their local communities. We have been really pleased with the uptake of first doses in this age group, with 76% of all 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland now vaccinated.”

To book an appointment please visit http://nhsinform.scot/vaccinebooking Those without online access, can also book an appointment through the national vaccination helpline by calling 0800 030 8013.

Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, said: “We have now delivered more than 1.5 million boosters and third doses and the excellent progress with the Autumn/Winter vaccination programme now allows us to invite people aged 40 to 49-year-olds to book online.

“We aim to vaccinate people as quickly as possible in line with clinical guidance and over the course of the Autumn/Winter vaccination programme, we will see up to 7.5 million flu and Covid-19 booster vaccinations administered across Scotland.

“While vaccination is the bedrock of our fight against Covid-19, we encourage everyone to take part in regular Covid-19 testing, particularly before socialising and meeting up with others people from outside your household, wearing face masks where required and opening windows to improve ventilation.”

Additional Information

To use the online portal, individuals will need their unique vaccination username which can be found on any previous appointment letter. If this is not readily available, it can be located or reset by using NHS Inform’s “recover username” option.