The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended care home residents for older adults should be among the vulnerable groups receiving Covid jabs this spring.

Adults aged 75 and over and immunosuppressed individuals over six months are the other groups recommended for a spring booster.

Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “Our ongoing surveillance shows that Covid-19 continues to cause severe illness, particularly in older age groups and those who are immunosuppressed, but also clearly shows that spring and autumn vaccines are effective in helping to protect those most at risk – halving the likelihood of hospitalisation from the virus.

“I urge everyone who is eligible to take up the offer of a vaccine as soon as possible once invited – it will help improve your immunity to Covid-19, which does wane over time.”

UKHSA surveillance data on last spring’s programme showed those who received a vaccine were around 50% less likely to be admitted to hospital with Covid-19 from two weeks following vaccination, compared to those who did not receive one.

Vaccine uptake for last year’s spring programme for those aged 75 years and over was 67.5%.

NHS England will confirm details on how and when eligible people can access the spring vaccine in due course.