People all across the UK could receive an offer to get a Covid booster jab this autumn following advice from experts.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that plans should be put in place for those at high risk of Covid-19 to be offered a booster vaccination in the autumn. It also advised that smaller vulnerable groups such as the elderly and immunosuppressed should receive an extra vaccine dose in the spring.
As the virus continues to evolve and change, the JCVI has also warned that emergency surge vaccines may be required in case a novel variant with significant differences to the Omicron variant emerges.
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Professor Wei Shen Lim, Chair of COVID-19 vaccination on the JCVI, said: "The COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to reduce severe disease across the population, while helping to protect the NHS. That is why we have advised planning for further booster vaccines for persons at higher risk of serious illness through an autumn booster programme later this year.
"We will very shortly also provide final advice on a spring booster programme for those at greatest risk."
An autumn Covid booster campaign was initially kicked off in September last year. According to government data, by the end of summer 2022, 77.3 per cent of those aged 75 and over were covered by the vaccine.
The government also noted that, in England, the closure of the autumn booster campaign and the first booster offer will take place on February 12, 2023. It is continuing to urge all those eligible for a first booster to come forward before the offer closes.
Meanwhile, the JCVI is also advising that the initial Covid vaccination offers should become more targeted across 2023 to protect those at higher risk of severe infection.
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