Spring COVID-19 Vaccination Programme 2025

Published: 20/03/25

The Chief Medical Officer along with the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer and the Interim Chief Nursing Officer has written to provide members with important details regarding the 2025 Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme, which will run from 31st March to 30th June 2025. This programme aims to protect those most vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19, with eligibility criteria remaining consistent with the previous year. This letter outlines the key objectives, eligibility criteria, referral pathways, and additional resources to support the successful delivery of the programme. You can read the letter in full below.

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We are writing to provide you with further information on the 2025 spring COVID-19 vaccination programme which will run from 31 March to 30 June 2025.

Key Objectives

The aim of the COVID-19 immunisation programme is to prevent serious disease (hospitalisation and/or mortality) arising from COVID-19, with age being strongly associated with the risk of hospitalisation and mortality from COVID-19, with the oldest in the population being the most vulnerable.

Eligibility

For spring 2025, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) statement advises that a COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to:

• Residents in care homes for older adults

• All adults aged 75 years and over

• Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in tables 3 and 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)

To note, these cohorts are identical to those vaccinated in spring 2024.

Programme Age Limits

To be eligible this spring, an individual must turn 75 years of age on or before 30 June 2025, so will have been born on or before 30 June 1950.

An infant must be 6 months old by the programme start date of 31 March, so will have been born on or before 30 September 2024.

Further details on date of birth ranges that have been used to derive the cohorts can be found in Annex A.

Details of the COVID-19 vaccines to be used in Spring 2025 are contained in Annex B. Further details can also be found in the COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK. National protocols and patient group directions will be provided by Public Health Scotland (PHS).

Clinical Referral Route

The clinical referral route has been well established over the last three years of the COVID-19 programme and remains the same for spring 2025.

If an individual knows that they are eligible for vaccination this spring as part of the immunosuppressed group, or by virtue of being aged 75 years and older (up to and including 30 June 2025), but they have not been sent an appointment or prompt invitation, they can book via the portal or by calling the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013.

If an individual thinks they may be eligible as part of the immunosuppressed group, but is unsure, they can call the helpline and they will be referred to their local Health Board to ascertain eligibility and bring them forward for vaccination, if required.

An individual could also consult their GP practice or secondary care clinician, who can then assess the individual and complete a referral form to refer their case through local referral pathways for vaccination. If GP practices or other clinicians are unsure of their local referral pathway, they should contact their local Immunisation team or co-ordinator for more information.

Guidance on the clinical definition of immunosuppression can be found in the COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Vaccination of Stem Cell Transplant Recipients and Those Anticipating Immunosuppressive Therapy

Year-round vaccination will be made available to those who aged 6 months and over who have received a haematopoietic stem cell transplant or CAR-T therapy and who require revaccination, in accordance with the Scottish Haematology Society Revaccination Schedule.

Individuals aged 6 months and over anticipating immunosuppressive therapy may also be eligible and should be assessed for vaccine eligibility before starting treatment. This is year round offer and referrals must be made urgently.

Post-vaccination Observation Period

In late 2023 the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme’s (SVIP) Clinical Governance Group met to review the post-vaccination observation period and it was agreed that this is no longer required as standard. Vaccinators must still advise patients not to drive for 15 minutes after receiving vaccination and post-vaccination observation advice must also be given to those who get vaccinated in their home.

Please refer to the COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for more information on observation periods for those with allergies.

Resources

NES/PHS workforce education materials for vaccinators can be found at COVID-19 vaccination programme | Turas | Learn (nhs.scot).

Public information, including information to support informed consent, booking and rescheduling of appointments can be found via www.nhsinform.scot/covid19vaccine

The National Vaccination Helpline

At this time, the National Vaccination Helpline (0800 030 8013) only provides support to the COVID-19 and flu vaccination programmes. The helpline is unable to assist with, or make bookings for any other vaccination programme.

For assistance with routine programmes, such as RSV, shingles or pneumococcal, patients should be directed to their local Health Board Immunisation Team, or should check the contact details in their appointment letters.

Finally we would like to recognise and express our sincere gratitude for your professionalism and continuing support in planning and delivering this important vaccination programme. Thank you for all your hard work over the winter period and we wish you all the best for the spring 2025 programme.

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