UK health chiefs crank up plans for spring AND autumn Covid vaccine roll-outs

Another round of Covid booster vaccines should be dished out this autumn, No10’s scientific advisers said today.

Health bosses also called for extra jabs in the spring for the most at-risk Brits, which would likely include the elderly and immunosuppressed. 

It would be the seventh and eighth vaccine offer for tens of thousands of society’s most vulnerable.

Another round of Covid booster jabs should be dished out this autumn, the Government’s scientific advisers said today. Those who are older and those who are immunosuppressed should also receive an extra booster vaccine dose this spring, they advised

Latest government data shows that 64.5 per cent of those aged 50 and over have received their autumn booster jab

The JCVI also advised today that an emergency surge vaccine response may be required if a new variant with ‘clinically significant biological differences’ compared to the Omicron variant emerges

Britain’s historic inoculation campaign, which began in December 2020 — less than a year after Covid emerged, has drastically blunted the threat of the virus and saved tens of thousands of lives. 

It has allowed the country to press ahead with a post-pandemic life. 

With the darkest days of the crisis thought to be over, the immunisation drive will be wound down for under-50s. Booster invites to younger adults will be rescinded as of mid-February.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an expert panel which advises ministers, warned today that an emergency surge vaccine response may be required if a new variant with ‘clinically significant biological differences’ emerges. 

None of the strains currently circulating, including the Kraken and Orthrus, warrant any scaling up of the programme, however.

The autumn 2023 Covid booster campaign should be offered to those ‘at higher risk of severe Covid’, the JCVI said. 

It did not specify the exact groups who should be eligible.

But under the autumn booster campaign, which began in September, over-50s, residents and staff at care homes, and frontline health workers were invited.

On top of these groups, five to 49-year-olds who are a clinical risk group, live with an immunosuppressed person or are carers were also offered a booster — in a programme similar to one carried out for the annual flu vaccine. 

Latest Government data shows that 64.5 per cent of those aged 50 and over and 82.4 per cent of those aged 75 and over have received their jab. 

In England, the closure of the autumn booster campaign and the first booster offer for under-50s will be on February 12. 

The JCVI’s recommendations come ‘as the transition continues away from a pandemic emergency response towards pandemic recovery’.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, chair of Covid vaccination on the JCVI, said: ‘The vaccination programme continues to reduce severe disease across the population, while helping to protect the NHS.

‘That is why we have advised planning for further booster vaccines for persons at higher risk of serious illness through an autumn booster programme later this year.’

He added: ‘We will very shortly also provide final advice on a spring booster programme for those at greatest risk.’

Steve Russell, NHS director of vaccinations and screening, said: ‘Over the last two years the NHS covid vaccination programme has administered almost 145million doses and as a result, the public have widespread protection from Covid and its variants – a remarkable achievement.

‘Following the decision by the government to accept JCVI advice today, I would encourage anyone who has not yet had their covid booster to book an appointment in the next couple of weeks and make the most of the offer available.’

He added: ‘Once the NHS receives updated guidance for the next phase of the vaccination programme, our fantastic NHS staff will make sure the vaccine is as accessible and convenient to those eligible as it has been in each of the previous campaigns.’

The NHS will continue to operate a smaller scale vaccine offer from mid-February onwards to ensure those eligible for first and second doses can still get their jabs.  

The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme has delivered 144.5 million doses of the vaccine since Maggie Keenan became the first in the world to receive an approved jab. Pictured above, Mrs Keenan receives her spring booster shot at University Hospital, Coventry in April 2022 

COVID: The number of people infected with Covid taking up hospital beds in England fell 11 per cent from 9,414 in the week to January 4 to 8,404 in the seven days to January 11. NHS data shows the figure peaked at 9,533 on December 29 and has since fallen 19 per cent to 7,743

Heath bosses are yet to decide which vaccine will be used.

But Britons have been given doses of Pfizer or Moderna in previous booster rollouts. 

During the autumn 2022 campaign, some were also offered an updated combination version of the booster vaccines, which include a half-dose of the previous vaccine combined with a half-dose of a vaccine against the Omicron variant. 

A total of 45million and 43million first and second doses of the vaccine have been administered in England, according to the latest data. 

Some 33million booster doses have also been given.  

UK-wide Covid restrictions were eased last year, with ministers crediting sky-high immunity rates – from jab roll-outs and repeated waves — for the UK being able to ditch economically-crippling curbs. 

Britain has remained restriction-free since then, despite two more Covid peaks.

Covid infections have flattened off in recent weeks, with health chiefs crediting the vaccine uptake for stunting the latest influx.

But scientists have raised the alarm over Omicron sub-variants CH.1.1 and XBB.1.5, which have swept across England in recent weeks. 

Latest surveillance data shows how the CH.1.1 strain Orthrus — nicknamed after a mythical two-headed dog — accounted for 36.1 per cent of all Covid tests analysed in England on January 14. 

Maps suggest it now accounts for 100 per cent of genomic tests of the virus in many regions. 

XBB.1.5 — nicknamed ‘Kraken’, after a mythical sea monster — currently accounts for 3.9 per cent of cases in England, according to the same data and is thought to be the most transmissible strain yet.