Care home residents and people who are housebound will be the first to receive their Covid-19 boosters this autumn.

NHS England said vaccinations, which will include the first use of a vaccine that tackles the original and Omicron strains of Covid-19, will begin during the week of 5 September.

The NHS said local areas had begun booking care home residents in for their vaccine to ensure they were protected at the earliest opportunity.

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “The NHS was the first healthcare system in the world to deliver a Covid-19 vaccine outside of clinical trials, and will now be the first to deliver the new, variant-busting vaccine when the rollout begins at the start of September.

“Our fantastic NHS staff have worked incredibly hard to deliver 126 million doses to date and behind the scenes they have once again been preparing to deliver the latest phase with the same speed and precision as we have had throughout the rollout.

“When the time comes, I would strongly encourage anyone who is invited to take up both an autumn booster and flu jab, to do so as quickly as possible – it will give you maximum protection this winter.”

NHS England said the Moderna bivalent vaccine would be offered to people where appropriate and subject to available supply.

The JCVI and MHRA have stressed the original vaccines also continue to provide great protection and people should come forward regardless of vaccine offered.

Health and social care staff are among the other groups eligible for the autumn booster.