ALL over-50s will get another Covid booster in September, health chiefs have confirmed – as cases rose by nearly 800,000 last week.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation stated that over-50s and those who are vulnerable, as well as workers in health and social care will be given a booster shot.
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After increasing by a third for the sixth consecutive week, the UK has seen an increase in the number of infections.
According to the Office for National Statistics one in 19 Brits are now at risk of contracting the virus.
The JCVI updated their advice and expanded the booster rollout to include 50-64 year-olds.
Professor Anthony Harnden is the deputy chair for the JCVI. “By offering a further dose to those at higher risk of severe illness, we hope to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisations and deaths over the winter.”
Officials said that the flu is still a problem in this country and will offer free vaccinations to all over-50s and schoolchildren. “very much back this year”.
Rollout of the winter virus vaccines will start in September, in just six weeks’ time, with Brits invited in priority order with the eldest first.
Dr Mary Ramsay is the head of immunisation for the UK Health Security Agency. “Widening the eligibility for the flu vaccine will help reduce the number of people getting seriously ill and ease pressures on the NHS, particularly during the busy winter period.”
On July 6, the ONS reported that there were 2.9million Covid cases across England. This includes 334,000.00 in Scotland, 183.500 in Wales, and 107.600 in Northern Ireland.
All of them were higher than the week before, with the UK total increasing by 29%
With 13,975 patients in the NHS, Covid has been at its highest level since April.
The daily admissions have fallen to 1,850 from a three-month peak.
Officials are worried about flu bouncing back this winter as cases in Australia, which gets hit during the UK’s summer, are up to 10 times higher than average.
According to a senior health source, they were “being more precautionary”You can jab against flu and Covid.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Viruses spread more easily in the colder seasons with people socialising inside, so the risk of getting Covid is higher.
“It is absolutely vital the most vulnerable groups receive a booster vaccine to strengthen their immunity.”
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister, added: “Vaccines were our way out of this pandemic, and now they will make sure Covid can never haunt us in the same way again.”