I’M A VULNERABLE PATIENT WHO’S HAD THREE JABS. DO I NEED A FOURTH NOW?

SCIENTISTS believe it is highly likely that immunocompromised people will be more vulnerable to the Omicron variant, and so will require more protection.

These are Britons who suffer from serious illnesses such as blood cancer or multiple sclerosis, who, whether due to their condition or the medication they take, struggle to fight off infections, including Covid.

Often this also means their body will not mount a response to the Covid vaccine even after two doses, meaning they remain less well protected.

Since September these patients have, in theory, been offered a third jab, which they should have from three months after their second, in order to top up their protection against the virus. However, as The Mail on Sunday has reported, thousands of them have struggled to access this third jab, as many doctors simply didn’t know about it.

In mid-November, the NHS booking portal was finally updated to allow these immunocompromised people to specifically book a third primary dose, as it’s known.

On Monday, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the Government’s advisory panel, said this group should now also get a fourth dose, three months after their third. Those who managed to get their third primary dose in September will be eligible for this next dose later this month.

Professor Paul Hunter said: ‘The immunocompromised will be more at risk to this variant so they should make sure they get their fourth dose when they become eligible.’

At present, there is no option to book a fourth dose online through the Government website. The charity Blood Cancer UK says that it is currently seeking clarification from the NHS on this.