1.5m invited for 3rd Covid jab to act as winter shield

INVITATIONS to book a “booster” jab to keep Covid at bay are to be sent to 1.5 million people this week.

Text messages will go out from tomorrow, while letters will also be sent by post.

People who received their second jab at least six months ago will be eligible for the injection to increase their level of protection.

Dr Nikki Kanani, a GP who is the deputy lead for the Covid vaccination programme, said: “As we head into winter we should not drop our guard, so I would urge everyone to come forward and get a booster vaccination when they are invited.

“Getting a top-up vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from this cruel virus.”

Eligible people include anyone aged 50 and over, those living and working in care homes, and health and social care workers.

People who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group will also be able to get a booster.

There were 30,144 new Covid cases and 164 deaths reported yesterday, slightly up on the 29,547 cases and 156 deaths reported last Saturday.

Meanwhile, the number of people who have had both vaccines reached 44,357,108 by last Friday.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Booster doses are an important way of keeping the virus under control for the long term and will protect the most vulnerable through the winter months.”

The vaccination effort will “ramp up” in the coming days, with more vaccination centres and pharmacy-led clinics opening.

The NHS says people should receive “either one dose of the Pfizer vaccine or half a dose of the Moderna vaccine”.

A booster dose may well be a different sort of vaccine to the one received in the first two doses.

The vaccination of youths aged 12 to 15 is due to begin “shortly”, the NHS adds.