This is when over-60s in England could get the Covid vaccine - as rollout begins for over-70s

People aged 70 and over in England, and those who are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, will start to receive letters asking them to book their Covid-19 vaccine from Monday 18 January.

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More than five million people from the two priority groups will be invited to be inoculated this week, as part of the UK Government’s expansion of the vaccination programme.

The news comes as 10 more mass vaccination hubs opened in England.

Over 3.8 million people have now received their first dose of the vaccine in the UK.

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So, as the over 70s start to be immunised, when will those aged 60 and over be vaccinated - and what is the priority list?

When will the over 60s be vaccinated?

Who receives the coronavirus vaccine first has been decided by the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The UK Government’s current plan is to offer the jab to all 15 million people in the top four priority groups by mid-February.

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That includes care home residents, over 80s and frontline health and social care workers, 75 year olds and over, and those over 70 along with clinically extremely vulnerable individuals.

Millions of people in the two top priority groups have already received their first dose in England.

After the first four priority groups have been inoculated, those aged between 65 and 69 will be offered their first dose.

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Following this will be 16 to 64-year-olds with serious underlying health conditions. Then, letters will be sent out to those aged 60 and over.

There is not an exact date for when those in the over 60 age group will be notified that they can receive a jab, but it is likely to be at some point after 15 February.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Breakfast on Monday 18 January that the government’s aim was to vaccinate the top four priority groups by this date, followed by the next five groups.

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It is thought that these five groups, which includes those aged 60 and over, could be given their first dose by May.

But the schedule could be sped up before then, with the opening of more mass vaccination centres and plans for 24-7 jabs.

The UK Government has said it aims to vaccinate every adult in the UK by the autumn.

What are the priority groups?

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The JCVI determined the vaccine priority groups based on data showing who is at the highest risk of death from coronavirus.

During phase one of the rollout, jabs are being given to the most vulnerable people first based on the nine-point priority list.

This covers about 25 million people in the UK.

These are:

  • Residents in care homes for older adults and their carers
  • 80-year-olds and over and frontline health and social care workers
  • 75-year-olds and over
  • 70-year-olds and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
  • 65-year-olds and over
  • 16- to 64-year-olds with serious underlying health conditions
  • 60-year-olds and over
  • 55-year-olds and over
  • 50-year-olds and over

Where will I receive a vaccine?

More and more vaccination centres and hubs are opening in England, with those who are eligible being invited to book a jab at a location near them.

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Right now, jabs are being administered in hospital hubs for NHS staff and patients, GP surgeries for over 80s, care homes, pharmacies - although this is currently a small number - and sports stadiums and conference centres acting as mass vaccination centres.