Medics forgo third jab when poor countries ‘need it more’

SCIENTISTS and medics have said they will refuse a third jab until poorer countries have access to vaccinations, in a backlash against the Government’s booster scheme.

From today the first 1.5 million people will be invited to book their third jab, in a scheme which Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, said would “strengthen the wall of defence” against the virus.

Frontline healthcare workers are also included in the first tranche of booster jabs, but many doctors, nurses and scientists say they are uncomfortable having a further jab, when others around the world need it more.

Dr Jake Dunning, an infectious diseases researcher at the University of Oxford and the Royal Free Hospital, London, told The Telegraph, that he would not accept a booster if offered, and said for younger, healthier people there was little evidence of benefit.

“It’s like giving an extra life jacket to people already wearing functioning [but not always perfect] life jackets, just to ‘make sure’, while ignoring those people who have no life jackets whatsoever,” he said.

“I just feel very uneasy accepting a booster myself and I hope to draw attention to the ongoing crisis of inadequate vaccinations in poorer countries.

“There is evidence of a clinical need and [benefit] of a third ‘booster’ dose for some individuals, such as older adults.

“For many others, however, we have no evidence of need or benefit from a third booster dose, now or in the future.

“If there are others who feel like me and act in the same way, hopefully it will send a “not in my name” signal to my own Government and other rich countries.”

In recent weeks, several scientists have spoken out against the booster programme, with even Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, the lead scientist on the Oxford jab, claiming two doses were sufficient for most people.