Covid booster vaccinations are soon set to be offered alongside flu jabs, extending the roll-out by millions.
Those currently eligible for a booster jab are over-50s, NHS staff, care workers, and those deemed clinically extremely vulnerable or 'immunocompromised'.
This means those with mild or moderate asthma and other conditions do not qualify.
READ MORE : Latest coronavirus infection rates for Greater Manchester as cases rise in five boroughs
According to insiders, health chiefs now aim to offer the shot to all adults eligible for a free flu jab, The Mirror reports.
The move is being considered in an attempt to prevent a fourth wave, as seen in Canada and Egypt, from happening in the UK.
One insider said: “It has really spooked people.
"Although Canada looks like they have ridden out the worst of it, Egypt has been hit hard and Germany is worried about another wave. We’ve got a lot of excess vaccines so it makes sense to offer them to people who are coming in for flu jabs anyway.
“There’s so much riding on having a smooth Christmas that if vaccinating millions more people will help towards that then it will be sorted out pretty quickly.”
Tests show that protection against symptomatic Covid falls to 45pc six months after a second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine and to 65pc for Pfizer.
Early results show that a booster restores protection back up to 95.6pc. Those at high risk can now have a booster before six months, so many can get flu and Covid jabs together.
