Health Secretary Sajid Javid has today (14/9) confirmed that booster doses will begin to be offered from next week.
The governments of each UK nation has accepted the advice of the JCVI and have confirmed the programme will begin next week.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid told the Commons on Tuesday: "I can confirm I've accepted the JCVI's advice and the NHS is preparing to offer booster doses from next week."
The following eligible people will be contacted by the NHS to receive their booster:
- Care home residents,
- Health and social care workers
- People aged over 50
- People aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19
- Adult carers
- Adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
England's deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said the boosters will take place at mass vaccination centres and GP surgeries.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said there is a preference for mRNA COVID vaccines based on trial outcomes, with a first choice for a booster being the Pfizer vaccine, or alternatively, a half-dose of a Moderna jab as it works just as well.
Those who are unable to have an mRNA vaccine due to allergies should have an AstraZeneca vaccine booster.
A third dose should not be given until six months after a person has received a second shot, the committee added.
JCVI chair Professor Wei Shen Lim told a news conference: "Getting a dose too early may mean they do not need it as they still have a high level of protection, and as we've seen with the gap between the first and second dose, you don't want to have it too early."
He said a recurrent booster every six months may not be needed but it is too early to say.
