The UK’s medicines watchdog has said the Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines are safe to use as booster jabs.
The move by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) means a booster programme could be brought in imminently if the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) gives the go-ahead.
Members of the JCVI are meeting on Thursday, with a decision on who should get a third booster shot expected in the coming days.
The JCVI is looking at the latest data from the Cov-Boost trial run by the University Hospital Southampton.
The £19.3 million UK clinical trial is testing the Pfizer jab alongside those from AstraZeneca, Moderna, Novavax, Janssen from Johnson & Johnson, Valneva and CureVac.
The study is answering key questions such as whether people who have had two doses of AstraZeneca may get more benefit if they have a third dose of Pfizer.
The new MHRA guidance says Pfizer boosters can be given to anyone, regardless of which doses they had previously.
However, AstraZeneca boosters will only be given to those who previously had the AstraZeneca jab.
Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive, said: “We are committed to getting safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines to the UK public.
“This means ensuring that existing Covid-19 vaccines can continue to be used in the most effective way possible.
“We know that a person’s immunity may decline over time after their first vaccine course.
“I am pleased to confirm that the Covid-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and AstraZeneca can be used as safe and effective booster doses.
“This is an important regulatory change as it gives further options for the vaccination programme, which has saved thousands of lives so far.
“It will now be for the JVCI to advise on whether booster jabs will be given and if so, which vaccines should be used.
“We have in place a comprehensive safety surveillance strategy for monitoring the safety of all UK-approved Covid-19 vaccines and this surveillance will include booster jabs.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: “We continue to prepare for an autumn booster programme to ensure those most vulnerable to Covid-19 have protection extended ahead of winter and against new variants.
“Any booster programme, including which vaccines might be recommended for use, will be based the final advice of the independent JCVI.”
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