Residents, staff and housebound people are first in line for the autumn booster. From tomorrow, around seven million will be able to book a jab via the internet or by calling 119.
They include those with special health conditions, carers, frontline health and social care workers and over-50s.
Two vaccines, from Moderna and Pfizer, have been approved to counter both the original and Omicron strains.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “There really is no time to waste with a tricky winter to come.”
Mike Padgham, of the Independent Care Group of providers, added: “Covid-19 still poses a danger to older and vulnerable people.”
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “NHS staff have been working incredibly hard to prepare the latest Covid vaccine rollout – the biggest and fastest in our 74-year history.”