On Tuesday morning the Government revealed that it would be offering millions of people a Covid-19 booster jab this winter.
One of the key takeaways from the announcement is that people in the groups chosen for the booster jab so far - the over 50s, those in care homes, and frontline health and social care staff - would be offered a Pfizer shot even if they had been given a different vaccine previously.
Both Professor Wei Shen Lim of the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) and deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam told a press conference on Tuesday morning this would offer optimum protection.
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Prof Lim said the decision was based on data from a number of clinical trials, including one which showed the mRNA vaccines - Pfizer and Moderna - gave “very good immune boosting” after an initial course of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca jabs.
The Pfizer jab is “well-tolerated and has a good effect”, he said, and is the preferred choice, but alternatively a half-dose of Moderna could be administered.
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