UK rules out 4th Covid jab as booster still provides highest level of protection

UK health officials have ruled out a fourth Covid vaccine as booster jabs are still providing the highest levels of protection.

Three months after receiving a third jab, protection against hospitalisation among those aged 65 and over remained at about 90%, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

"The data is highly encouraging and emphasises the value of a booster jab," Wei Shen Lim, chair for COVID-19 immunisation on the government's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said in a statement.

By comparison, with only two vaccine doses, protection against severe disease for the over-65s dropped to around 70% after three months and to 50% after six months, the UKHSA said.

"The current data show the booster dose is continuing to provide high levels of protection against severe disease, even for the most vulnerable older age groups," Lim said.

Three months after receiving a third jab, protection against hospitalisation among those aged 65 and over remained at about 90% (Getty Images)

"For this reason, the committee has concluded there is no immediate need to introduce a second booster dose, though this will continue to be reviewed."

Protection against mild symptomatic infection was more short-lived than against severe disease and dropped to around 30% after about three months, the UKHSA said.

Israel is now administering fourth doses to people over 60 and health workers, as well as immunocompromised patients, after finding they boost antibodies five-fold within a week.

It comes as Covid cases have risen by 178,250 in a 6% decrease over the past seven days.

Today's figures show a further 229 deaths have also been recorded in the last 24 hours.

It comes as Covid cases have risen by 178,250 in a 6% decrease over the past seven days (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

It comes after last Friday, New Year's Eve, saw 189,846 infections recorded and 203 deaths.

Earlier today, it was announced the the UK's Covid R rate was as high as 1.5 in a huge weekly jump.

An R number between 1.2 and 1.5 means that for every 10 people infected, they will on average infect between 12 and 15 other people.

It is the first update to the R number since December 23, following a break for Christmas, when the range was 1.0 to 1.2. The daily growth of infections is estimated at between 3% and 6%.