Over-65s urged to have Covid booster as vaccine programme is reduced in England

Over-65s have been urged to have the Covid-19 booster jab this autumn as the vaccine programme has been scaled back.

It will only be offered to those aged 65 and over along with health and care workers and people living with certain health conditions, following advice on the UK booster programmes from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

That is a change from last year when the autumn booster jab was offered to those age 50 and over.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan receives his Covid-19 booster jab last year after having his flu vaccination, during a visit to the health clinic at Pearl Chemist in London. (PA)

Health officials said the larger group was offered the booster jab last year as part of the “emergency response” to the pandemic.

But the “success of these programmes has enabled us to live with Covid and, this year, we are able to scale back the number of people who require an autumn booster”, officials said.

The Covid-19 jab is not available privately in the UK, so those who were offered the vaccine last year and are not eligible this year will not be able to purchase the jab themselves.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, chairman of Covid-19 immunisation on the JCVI, said: “The autumn booster programme will continue to focus on those at greatest risk of getting seriously ill.

“It is important that everyone who is eligible takes up a booster this autumn – helping to prevent them from hospitalisations and deaths arising from the virus over the winter months.”

Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes at UKHSA, said: “The Covid-19 virus has not gone away and we expect to see it circulating more widely over the winter months, with the numbers of people getting ill increasing.

“The booster is being offered to those at higher risk of severe illness and by taking up the booster vaccine this autumn – you will increase your protection ahead of winter, when respiratory viruses are typically at their peak.”

Health Secretary Steve Barclay (PA Wire)

The JCVI sets out its recommendations on vaccinations for the whole of the UK, and then it is up to each of the devolved nations to decide on whether or not to take up the recommendations.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said he had accepted the JCVI advice for the booster programme in England, adding: “NHS England will confirm details on how and when eligible people can access the autumn booster vaccine shortly, and I would urge anyone invited – including those yet to have their first jab – to come forward as soon as possible.”