Top-up doses of Covid vaccines should cut the number of people admitted to hospital this winter, a vaccine chief says. Oxford Vaccine Group director Professor Sir Andrew Pollard said the booster jabs will help to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed this winter.
It comes after the Government said the autumn booster programme, which starts next week, “aims to increase immunity in those at higher risk of severe Covid-19 during winter", the Mirror reports.
Sir Andrew said the population was well-vaccinated, but it needed people to take up future doses “to reduce the risk, not of severe Covid admissions, but admissions to hospital where Covid is a co-factor with other conditions, such as being very frail or having another health condition”. The plea to take up the jabs comes as an Ipsos poll reveals fears about Covid have eased.
NHS England said care home residents and people who are housebound will be among the first to be vaccinated as the rollout begins on September 5. A wider rollout is due to start on September 12. The Welsh Government said "the roll-out will begin at the start of September 2022".
As with previous campaigns, the oldest and most vulnerable will be called first, with people able to book online or through 119 as long as it has been three months since their last dose. Those who are most susceptible to serious illness from Covid-19 and those aged 75 and over will be able to make their appointments first.
Health and social care staff will also be able to get the autumn booster. All providers are being asked to ensure their staff are offered the autumn jab, potentially alongside the flu jab.
The JCVI and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have said the original vaccines continue to provide good protection and people should come forward regardless of the vaccine offered.
