Another jab for over-65s and the vulnerable this autumn

A FURTHER round of booster jabs is set to be offered to over-65s and younger people with health conditions this autumn, following scientific advice to the Government.

The interim recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) means the NHS will prepare to roll out another round of vaccines from September.

Health and care workers, and people in care homes will also be offered an extra booster. All over 75s and those with weak immune systems are currently being offered fourth jabs, so an autumn booster will mean a fifth dose. For other groups likely to be offered vaccines this autumn it will be their fourth.

The JCVI said the interim advice was being issued now “for the purposes of operational planning for the autumn for the NHS, care homes and wider health community”. Final advice – which could change the size of the groups, or the timing – will be made later in the year. Earlier this year, the NHS was told to prepare for the possibility that all over50s may be offered an extra booster this winter. The committee warned of “considerable uncertainty with regards to the likelihood, timing and severity of any potential future wave of Covid-19 in the UK in the year ahead”. But it said that “winter will remain the season when the threat from Covid-19 is greatest for individuals and health communities”.

Prof Wei Shen Lim, chairman of Covid vaccination on the JCVI, said: “Last year’s autumn booster vaccination programme provided excellent protection against severe Covid-19, including against the omicron variant.

“We have provided interim advice on an autumn booster programme so that the NHS and care homes are able to start the necessary operational planning, to enable high levels of protection for more vulnerable individuals and frontline healthcare staff over next winter.

“As we continue to review the scientific data, further updates to this advice will follow.”

The JCVI said it would continue its review of the vaccination programme, and announce final plans later this year, which will define those at particular clinical risk, and set out the details of the timetable for the programme.