Up to 400,000 people are to be offered their FIFTH Covid jab as the NHS launches its Spring booster programme this week.
They are the immunosuppressed aged 12 and over who should already have had four jabs.
Care home residents and the over 75s are also being asked to come forward to get their second booster.
The NHS says five million people will be able to get boosters this Spring with the first 600,000 able to book jabs this week.
And once that rollout has been completed the immunity top up will be available to everyone.
PM Boris Johnson told the Tory conference in Blackpool: “We’re getting ready for a fourth jab because we’re going to need it.”
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “We have protected millions of people thanks to the efforts of our staff and volunteers. They will once again rise to the next challenge.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid added: “Our phenomenal vaccination programme has saved countless lives and built a wall of defence which has allowed us to learn to live with Covid.”
Research by the UK Health Security Agency estimates that since mid-December 157,000 hospitalisations have been prevented by booster doses.
Since Covid jabs were introduced 14 months ago
118 million vaccinations, including 32 million top-ups, have been given out over the last six months.
For the next round of jabs adults will be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine while 12 - 18s will only get a Pfizer one.
