Covid boosters will be offered to all over-50s and those at greatest risk of the disease as part of the “toolbox” of measures for controlling coronavirus over the autumn and winter following guidance from the government’s vaccine advisers.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said a third dose of vaccine would top up the immunity in those whose protection had likely waned since they completed their first round of shots earlier in the year.
Prof Jonathan Van Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, said the UK’s vaccination programme had so far prevented an estimated 24m Covid infections and 112,000 deaths but warned “this pandemic is still active”.
“We know that this winter could quite possibly be bumpy at times and we know that other respiratory viruses such as flu and RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] are highly likely to make their returns. With all of that in mind the mantra, if you like, is to stay on top of things,” he said.
“We want…