Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi
(Picture: PA Wire)Booster jabs could be given out annually in a bid to combat Covid and new variants that may emerge, a minister has said.
Nadhim Zahawi, who is the current Education Secretary and former minister for vaccine deployment, told The Sun that the government is planning to launch an annual vaccination programme.
He said: “Ultimately our plan, we will, I hope be the first major economy to transition from pandemic to endemic and have an annual vaccination programme.”
The US government approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11 last week.
Zahawi said the UK is unlikely to follow suit as there is no need for under-11s to be given the jab. But he did suggest that face coverings and daily testing for school pupils could return.
“It’s inconvenient but a small price to pay to keep schools open. We absolutely do not want to close them.”
It comes as more than 10 million people in the UK have received a top-up jab, with more than 1 million doses administered in London.
However, around 30 per cent of over-80s and 40 per cent of over-50s in England are yet to receive a booster shot of vaccine, the Department of Health and Social Care said.
People over 50 and those most at risk from Covid-19 are eligible for a booster five months after their second jab.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid recently said younger relatives should urge eligible parents and grandparents to take up the offer of a booster and the flu vaccine.
He said that if “we all come together and play our part” then the country can “avoid a return to restrictions and enjoy Christmas”.
“Almost 10 million people in the UK have received their Covid-19 booster and third jabs, a phenomenal achievement in under two months,” Mr Javid said.
More than 88 million vaccines have already been delivered and nine in 10 adults have had their first dose since Margaret Keenan received the first jab outside of a clinical trial in Coventry in December 2020.
