Another round of Covid booster shots is to be issued this autumn, the government’s scientific advisers said today.
Health chiefs have also called for an extra booster dose to be given to the elderly and those with compromised immune systems this spring.
This means that millions of Britons will receive an eighth vaccine by next winter if ministers accept the recommendations.
Another round of Covid booster shots is to be issued this autumn, the government’s scientific advisers said today. The elderly and those with compromised immune systems should also get an extra boost this spring, they advised
The latest government data shows that 64.5 percent of people over 50 have received their shot
The JCVI also advised today that emergency vaccination may be necessary if a new variant with “clinically significant biological differences” compared to the Omicron variant emerges.
Britain’s historic vaccination campaign, which began in December 2020 – just nine months after Covid was declared a pandemic – has dramatically reduced the threat of the virus and saved tens of thousands of lives.
But the JCVI also warned today that emergency vaccination may be necessary if a new variant with “clinically significant biological differences” compared to the Omicron variant emerges.
The autumn 2023 Covid reinforcement campaign should be offered to those “at higher risk of severe Covid”, the JCVI also said.
People over 50, residents and staff in aged care homes and frontline health and social workers are all eligible to be admitted as part of the Autumn 2022 Covid Booster campaign, which started in early September last year.
In addition to these groups, five to 49-year-olds, who represent a clinical risk group and live with an immunocompromised person or carers, were also offered a booster shot – similar to the annual flu shot.
According to the latest data, released Jan. 15, 64.5 percent of those over 50 and 82.4 percent of those over 75 received their shots.
In England, the Fall Booster Campaign and the first Booster Campaign end on February 12.
The JCVI also said that the third booster shot, which became available in 2021, will no longer be offered to people aged 16 to 49 who are not in a clinical risk group from February 12, “as the transition progresses “from one pandemic emergency to a pandemic recovery”.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, Chair of COVID-19 Vaccination at the JCVI, said: “The COVID-19 vaccination program continues to reduce serious disease in the population while helping to protect the NHS.
“As such, we have recommended scheduling additional booster shots for those at higher risk of severe disease through a fall booster program later this year.”
She added: “We will also shortly provide final guidance for a spring recovery plan for the most vulnerable.”
Health bosses have yet to decide which vaccine will be used.
But Britons have received doses of Pfizer or Moderna in previous booster deployments.
During the fall 2022 campaign, some were also offered an updated combination version of the booster vaccines, which combines a half dose of the previous vaccine with a half dose of a vaccine against the Omicron variant.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
