Two million more people who are eligible for a Covid booster vaccine will this week be invited to have one.

Texts and letters will be sent to individuals who are due to have a booster at least six months after their second Covid jab. These include people living in residential care homes for older adults, adults aged 50 or over, frontline health and social care workers, 16 to 49-year-olds with underlying health conditions, adult carers and adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals.

Over five million people have had a booster and more than 7.5 million have been invited to have one through the national booking service. NHS England and Improvement said there are over 2,200 sites in total around the country delivering booster jabs made up of community pharmacies, GP practices and other local sites.

Ed Waller, the director for primary care strategy and NHS contracts, told the Pharmacy Show this month that 1,300 pharmacy sites in England are delivering boosters and insisted that number will increase. NHSE&I said 10 million people are eligible for a booster jab.

“Winter is coming and infection rates are rising and so it’s now really important that everyone receiving their invite for a booster vaccine from the NHS this week books in at one of the convenient vaccinations sites around the country offering this crucial, additional protection,” said NHS medical director professor Stephen Powis.

“Thanks to NHS staff nine in 10 people have had a first dose, saving tens of thousands of lives and now more than five million boosters have been delivered in the first month of the roll out.

“I would urge anyone receiving an invite this week to book in as soon as possible. The booster dose is proven to significantly increase protection against Covid and will provide vital protection this winter.”