Booster jabs start next week in West

THE first people who are due to get Covid booster jabs in Devon and Cornwall are expected to start receiving them next week.

The news follows the government announcement that around 30million of the most vulnerable people will be offered a top-up vaccination against the Covid-19 virus.

People are being asked to wait to be contacted to make an appointment, and not to pester busy GPs asking for an update about their slot.

The jabs are expected to be delivered at a variety of venues including the large vaccination hubs at Greendale near Exeter, and Home Park at Plymouth.

More details of the booster jab rollout are expected to be announced by the NHS as the online booking system is updated.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has advised the government that groups should be vaccinated in the same order as they received the first dose. They are:

■ Those living in residential care homes for older adults;

■ All adults aged 50 years or over;

■ Frontline health and social care workers;

■ All those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe Covid-19

■ Adult carers and adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals.

The committee says that the booster should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the first course of vaccination when people have received two doses.

The NHS will contact people when it is their turn for the booster jab.

A spokesperson for the NHS said: “People will be offered the vaccine through a range of services. Primary care teams will vaccinate care home staff and residents.

“Health and social care staff will be directed to book their appointments through employers and members of the public will be invited to get their booster through a GP-led service and/or be contacted by the NHS to book through the national Covid-19 vaccination booking service to get their vaccination in a designated pharmacy, vaccination centre or GP-led service.”

A message on the NHS website said: “The NHS is offering a booster vaccine dose to people most at risk from Covid-19 who have already had two doses of the vaccine.

“Protection given by the Covid-19 vaccine decreases over time. A booster dose helps give you longerterm protection against getting seriously ill from Covid-19.”