Spring Covid boosters for the over-75s

COVID booster vaccines will be given to the over-75s, care home residents and vulnerable people this spring, it has emerged.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said it would top up the immunity of those with the highest risk of severe illness.

People aged 75 and over will be offered a jab – along with care home residents and anyone aged five or over who is immunosuppressed.

They will be offered the vaccine around six months after their previous dose, with NHS England setting out more details of the programme – which runs from April 17 to June 30 – at a later date.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, chairman of the JCVI’s Covid-19 committee, said: ‘Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself against Covid-19 and the spring booster programme provides an opportunity for those who are at highest risk of severe illness to keep their immunity topped up.

‘This year’s spring programme will bridge the gap to the planned booster programme in the autumn, enabling those who are most vulnerable to be well protected throughout summer.’

And Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said: ‘Covid-19 is still circulating widely, and we have recently seen increases in older people being hospitalised. It is important those at highest risk of severe illness do not become complacent.’