Sajid Javid told the Commons the government had accepted advice from the the JCVI that around 30 million people should be offered a third dose. This includes over-50s, younger adults with health conditions and frontline health and social care workers. The Pfizer jab is recommended and it should be given at least six months after the second dose.
It is part of the government’s plan for managing Covid through the autumn and winter.
The recommendation from the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) comes amid concern about waning immunity. There are some signs protection offered by the vaccine may start dropping off several months after the second dose - with the most vulnerable groups most at risk of this. The JCVI said it was still unclear exactly how much protection does slip, but it wanted to take a precautionary approach and ensure the most vulnerable people maintain high levels of protection.
Saves them having to destroy another 1m doses I suppose.
One of the leading scientists behind the Oxford vaccine for Covid-19 has said she does not support a widespread booster jab campaign in the UK as immunity among fully vaccinated people is “lasting well” Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, who developed the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, one of the most widely used Covid vaccines in the world, suggested extra doses should be directed to countries with a low rate of vaccination.
Britain promised to donate 80m does to poorer countries but so far has only donated 5m.
If we want to visit and trade with these countries then they need to be vaccinated.
Given that there’s 30,000 people a day (1,000,000 a month) tested positive for COVID I would suggest that many elderly and vulnerable people would feel happier with a booster if, as it seems, they have to mix with so many potential carriers …
Since hundreds of thousands of UK citizens have died or been incapacitated by BJ’s previous vacillations it makes sense for the government , this time, to be more careful than less …
Downing Street press conference due to start at 15:30 BST.
The prime minister will present the government’s Covid autumn and winter plan.
Boris Johnson will then take questions alongside Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Patrick Vallance and England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty.
But this winter is ‘increasingly unlikely to reach the peak of the January 2021 wave’, says SAGE
JCVI recommends starting booster campaign - with over-50s offered a Pfizer dose six months after their second jab or a half dose of Moderna
COVID-19 vaccine available for 12 to 15-year-olds in England from next week - and child can have jab without consent from parents if deemed ‘competent’
Fully vaccinated people made up just 1% of coronavirus deaths in England in first half of 2021, figures show
BJ’s banking on the vaccines … otherwise it’s another winter lockdown …
Just had a text from our surgery, saying that they are ready for appointments for both the Covid booster jab and the Flu jab. Said that both could be taken together. Also that they had enough supplies for all patients. Me and the wife are booked in for October 20th.
As I am in Scotland things are done differently. Last year I had to stand in a long queue in the street with other older folk waiting to get our flue jabs and this in November
The covid jabs I had to go to my local vaccination centre, I say local but it was a two bus journey to get there.
My health board could not organise a piss up in a brewery.
Research suggested that mixing vaccines produces a stronger immune response and can provide better immunity against new strains of Covid.
Since the Delta variant is still infecting so many I’m guessing that in light of that research they think it a better option than a same-type booster.
There was an israel study that people who had received MRNA vaccines benefited from an MRNA booster. For AZ it’s going to be MRNA boosters. So I’m not sure whether they will be giving AZ(viral vector) boosters to MRNA vaccinated unless they run out of MRNA.
The trouble with mix and match, if you run into trouble later on, you, as in an individual will have no idea what the source was, a couple of years down the line, the data analysts will have an idea, but, you won’t.
According to a report on the news yesterday AZ retains it’s effectiveness long term but Pfizer reduces quite dramatically down to 40% effective. after quite a short time period (six months? I forget) so boosters for that might be needed BUT all vaccines reduce the chance of needing hospital care if you do get the disease
