UK Announces Eligibility for Spring 2027 COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

The United Kingdom Government has confirmed the groups eligible for its spring 2027 COVID-19 vaccination programme, retaining the criteria used in previous spring campaigns.

Under the programme, vaccinations will be offered to adults aged 75 and above, individuals aged six months and older who are immunosuppressed, and all residents of care homes for older adults.

The Department of Health and Social Care announced the decision on Friday, following the acceptance of recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert body that advises the government on immunisation policy.

Minister of State for Public Health and Patient Safety, Dame Diana Johnson, said the programme would continue prioritising people at the highest risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19.

She said older adults and people with weakened immune systems remained particularly vulnerable to severe illness, adding that vaccination was an important measure for protecting them.

The eligibility criteria are consistent with those adopted for previous spring vaccination campaigns, reflecting the government's decision to maintain targeted protection for vulnerable groups.

In its assessment, the JCVI identified adults aged 75 and above and immunosuppressed individuals as groups with higher rates of hospitalisation and mortality associated with

The committee also recommended that eligible individuals should generally receive their vaccination at least six months after their previous dose, although operational flexibility may allow a minimum interval of three months where appropriate.

The guidance defines immunosuppression as conditions or treatments that significantly weaken the body's immune response, with eligibility applying to people aged six months and above.

The government said it would continue monitoring COVID-19 trends and vaccine-related evidence to inform future decisions on eligibility.

It added that the programme remained focused on reducing severe illness, hospital admissions and deaths among people most vulnerable to the virus.