Jabs for elderly to continue after autumn booster campaign ends

COVID booster jabs twice a year for the elderly are set to continue in 2023, it has been announced.

The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI) yesterday advised the Government to start planning for a spring and autumn Covid booster campaign similar to the 2022 template, focused on jabs for the elderly and most vulnerable.

The autumn booster vaccination rollout is set to conclude on Feb 12 and guidance is expected in the coming weeks on how and when the spring campaign will work. The Government is also preparing to launch emergency surge vaccinations if a novel variant emerges of sufficient concern.

Prof Wei Shen Lim, chairman of Covid vaccination on the JCVI, said: “We will very shortly also provide final advice on a spring booster programme for those at greatest risk.”

Alongside the end of the autumn booster programme, the UKHSA is ending the evergreen offer of Covid booster vaccines for healthy people. The Government says this is because of low uptake and a desire to move towards a “pandemic recovery” response.