COVID-19 vaccination campaign: Who is currently eligible for the vaccine?

Hello everyone,

How are you today?

Vaccination against COVID-19 is now open to all people in the following categories, following The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice:

In England:

• Those living or working in a care home for older adults
• Frontline health and social care workers
• People in age order:
  • Those aged 80+
  • Those aged 75+
  • Those aged 70+
  • Adults onthe NHS shielded patient list
  • Those aged 65+
  • Adults under 65 with long-term conditions (see below)

People aged 50-64 years will be offerred the vaccine at a later date.

The clinical conditions currently eligible for the vaccine include:

• Blood cancer (leukaemia, lymphome, myeloma)
• Diabetes
• Dementia
• Heart problems
• Chest complaint or breathing difficulties (including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma)
• Kidney diseases
• Liver diseases
• Lowered immunity due to a health condition or treatment (ex: HIV, steroid medications, chemotherapy, radiotherapy)
• Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriasis
• Organ transplant
• Stroke or transient ischaemic attack (ITA)
• Neurological or muscle wasting conditions
• Severe or profound learning disability
• Problems with the spleen (i.e. sickle cell disease) or those having had their spleen removed
• Those who are severely overweight (BMI of 40+)
• Severe mental illness

Adults who provide regular care for an elderly or disabled person as well as younger adults in long stay nursing and residential settings will be offered the vaccine at the same time as the adults under 65 years with long-term health conditions.

For more information on vaccination in England, you can consult the Public Health England guidance here: Why you have to wait for your COVID-19 vaccine

In Scotland:

As in England, care home residents, people aged 80+ and frontline health and social care workers will be prioritised.

Vaccination for other groups will start as soon as the supply of vaccines is available. Priority for the vaccine will follow a similar order as the programme in England listed above.

For more information on vaccination in Scotland, you can consult the NHS Inform guidance here: Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine

In Wales:

As in England and Scotland, groups to be priortised for vaccination follow JCVI guidance, meaning that care home residents, people aged 80+ and frontline health and social care workers will receive the vaccine first.

Vaccination for other groups will start as soon as the supply of vaccines is available. Priority for the vaccine will follow a similar order as the programme in England listed above.

For more information on vaccination in Wales, you can consult the Public Health Wales guidance here: COVID-19 vaccination information

In Northern Ireland:

As in England, Scotland and Wales, administration of the COVID-10 vaccine follows JCVI advice. Frontline health and social care workers, care home residents and staff, and those with certain clinical conditions will be vaccinated first.

Vaccination for other groups will start as soon as the supply of vaccines is available. Priority for the vaccine will follow a similar order as the programme in England listed above.

For more information on vaccination in Wales, you can consult the Department of Health guidance here: COVID-19 vaccination programme in Northern Ireland