Spring COVID-19 booster launches for over-75s and high risk in England

pharmafile | March 21, 2022 | News story | Sales and Marketing  

Those aged 75 and over, alongside residents in care homes and those with weakened immune systems, can now book an extra COVID-19 booster jab in England. This news comes as statistics show that infection rates are rising across all age groups.

The rollout follows recommendations from the UK’s vaccine advisers who say that additional jabs will help top-up protection for the most vulnerable. Spring boosters are already currently being rolled out in Wales and Scotland.

A wider booster programme for the general population is anticipated this Autumn. This comes as the UK sees rising cases of COVID-19, with an estimated one in every 20 people infected.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said that people with symptoms of the virus should “behave sensibly”, but it is up to the individual to decide whether or not to take a test. “I think we need to step back and think about how we learn to live with COVID-19 and focus on our very best form of defence and that’s the vaccination programme.”

A second booster dose is due to be offered to adults aged 75 years and over, residents in a care home for older adults, and individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed, or have weakened immune systems. This means that approximately five million people in the UK will be eligible to book their extra booster jab, and the first 600,000 people will be invited from this week.

Health experts have emphasised that booster jabs are the best way to protect oneself from COVID-19 amid increasing cases, and following the scrapping of restrictions nation-wide.

Lina Adams

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