The flu and Covid-19 vaccine programme is to start earlier than planned this year, officials have said.
It comes after a new variant of the virus which causes Covid-19 was detected in the UK on August 18.
NHS officials said the variant, known as BA.2.86, represents the most concerning new variant since Omicron first emerged.
It is not classified as a “variant of concern”, but scientists have said it carries a high number of mutations.
The Department of Health and Social Care announced that vaccinations would start on September 11 following advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
