The UK government on Friday announced that it will be rolling out a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose as a booster shot for everyone aged 50 and over to increase protection against coronavirus and prevent hospitalizations in the winter months.
Scientific advisers on the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have recommended an extra dose be offered in the autumn months.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it has accepted that advice and will be rolling out the free doses to over-50s and also healthcare staff and National Health Service (NHS) workers in the coming months.
“I have accepted the independent advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to offer an autumn COVID-19 booster to people aged 50 and over, residents and staff in care homes for older adults, frontline health and social care workers, unpaid carers, individuals aged five to 49 in clinical risk groups and household contacts of those who are immunosuppressed,” said Health Secretary Steve Barclay.
“Viruses spread more easily in the colder seasons with people socializing inside, so the risk of getting COVID-19 is higher. It is absolutely vital the most vulnerable groups receive a booster vaccine to strengthen their immunity against serious disease over winter to protect themselves and reduce pressure on the NHS,” he said.
The vaccination plan is also being extended for the annual flu vaccine, which is usually offered free of charge to the elderly and vulnerable groups.
“The flu virus could also be highly infectious at this time of year, so today I am also announcing that those eligible for a free flu vaccination this year will include everyone aged 50 and over, primary school children and secondary school pupils in years 7, 8 and 9, as well as people in clinical risk groups, unpaid carers and household contacts of those who are immunosuppressed,” said Barclay.
The JCVI had previously recommended that a fourth COVID dose be given to over-65s.
But the independent advisory body has now revised its guidance after considering the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron waves of the virus.
"The committee considered the recent epidemiology of the BA.4 and BA.5 waves, as well as the benefits of aligning the COVID-19 program with the flu vaccine rollout, concluding that expanding the offer would provide necessary protection to those at higher risk of severe illness and keep greater numbers of people out of the hospital," JCVI said.
It comes as the latest Office for National Statistics data showed a 29 percent rise in COVID-19 infections in the country in the past week.
The figure of almost 3.5 million testings positive in the week until July 6 is the largest since mid-April but remains below the UK's record high of 4.9 million reported at the end of March.
