The over-50s, people in care homes, and frontline health and social care workers will be offered a third booster Covid-19 vaccine this winter, the Government has confirmed.
This comes after experts from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) delivered their advice on the booster to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group group for Covid (who were in priority groups one to nine during the initial vaccine rollout) will also be eligible for a jab.
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Experts said the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine should be the jab of choice as a booster dose, and it will be given to around 30 million people in the effected groups.
The JCVI has also said it will be safe to administer the booster shot alongside the usual winter flu jab.
Three vaccines have been approved as safe and effective as boosters – AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna – but experts have decided to opt for Pfizer as a preference, as evidence shows it is well-tolerated by recipients.
It can be given to people even if they have previously received two doses of one of the other vaccines.
If necessary, Moderna may be used as an alternative, but as a half-dose booster shot after studies showed it was effective with few side-effects.
People should receive their third booster dose at least six months after they received their second dose of a Covid vaccine.
When there is more data, experts plan to look at whether boosters should also be offered to healthy people under the age of 50.
PM Boris Johnson is expected to give a press conference this afternoon laying plans for containing Covid during the winter, while Health Secretary Javid is to give a statement on the topic to parliament.
Yesterday, England Chief Medical Officer Prof Chris Whitty appeared alongside colleagues from the other three home nations to explain the decision to offer a single Covid vaccine to those aged between 12 and 15.
