ll over 50s are offered a Covid booster shot this fall in an effort to stave off a spate of respiratory illness this summer.
Below the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) Action Plan will also boost a range of other groups, including primary health and social workers.
The announcement came after the full Covid . from the UK capital punishment was confirmed earlier this week as having passed 200,000.
In the meantime, Covid infections in the UK have risen by nearly 800,000 in a week, with some parts of the country approaching spring record levels. Hospital numbers also continue to increase, driven by the spread of the latest coronavirus sub-variants Omicron BA.4 and BA.5.
A total of It is estimated that 3.5 million people in private households have had Covid last week, up 29% from 2.7 million last week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The JCVI said the fall vaccination rollout was intended to cope with the new sub-variants, while also offering free flu shots in a twofold effort to limit those affected by respiratory illnesses. The aim is to limit hospital admissions with the NHS already under extreme pressure.
Others eligible for the booster are:
- Residents in a care home for the elderly and staff working in care homes for the elderly. and those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group including pregnant women
- Those aged 5 to 49 who are household contacts of immunosuppressed people
- Those aged 16 to 49 who are caregivers
All eligible groups are encouraged to use the vaccine when it is offered, even if they have had a spring booster, to best protect themselves against COVID-19 this winter.
Professor Anthony Harnden, Vice-Chairman of the JCVI, said: “We have made our final recommendations for the autumn program to ensure the NHS and the wider health system have time to plan a vaccine rollout well in advance of the winter season.
“The Covid-19 boosters are very effective at increasing immunity and by offering an extra dose this fall to those at higher risk of serious illness, we hope to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalizations and deaths in the winter.” .”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will offer the free flu vaccine to additional groups.
These groups will not be eligible until the most vulnerable, including previously announced preschool and primary school children, the over-65s and people in clinical risk groups, have received the shot.
The new groups that flu vaccine are all adults ages 50 to 64 and high school students in years 7, 8, and 9.
dr. Mary Ramsay, head of immunization at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Increasing flu vaccine eligibility will help reduce the number of people getting seriously ill and ease the pressure on the NHS, especially during the busy winter period.
“It is also important that everyone who is eligible for the Covid-19 booster gets the shot when invited, including pregnant women, who are at higher risk. Having Covid-19 during pregnancy can lead to complications. Getting the vaccine, including a booster, offers the best possible protection for you and your baby.”