One other season, one other vaccine. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has suggested the federal government to supply an autumn Covid-19 booster programme.
The federal government has confirmed the autumn programme will probably be rolled out forward of the winter months, when Covid-19 infections sometimes improve.
Right here’s what we all know concerning the autumn jabs to date.
Who will probably be eligible for autumn vaccines?
These in ‘older age groups’, residents in care properties for older adults, frontline well being and social care staff, and people with sure underlying well being circumstances obtain a booster vaccine forward of the winter interval.
‘Older age groups’ is almost definitely to imply over 75s, just like the spring vaccine rollout, though this element is to be confirmed.
Why are autumn vaccines wanted?
We all know that the safety provided by vaccines wanes over time and though you possibly can nonetheless catch Covid after a vaccine, receiving a jab reduces the possibility of extreme signs and hospitalisation. That is particularly vital for these in susceptible teams.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, chair of Covid-19 vaccination on the JCVI, mentioned that final 12 months’s autumn booster programme offered “excellent protection” in opposition to Covid-19.
“Last year’s autumn booster vaccination programme provided excellent protection against severe Covid-19, including against the Omicron variant.
“We have provided interim advice on an autumn booster programme for 2022 so that the NHS and care homes are able to start the necessary operational planning, to enable high levels of protection for more vulnerable individuals and frontline healthcare staff over next winter.
“As we continue to review the scientific data, further updates to this advice will follow.”
What occurs subsequent?
The Division of Well being welcomed the suggestions, including that they’ve requested NHS England to start preparations for subsequent winter.
“We welcome the interim advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) for an autumn Covid booster programme and will consider their final recommendations later this year,” a Division of Well being and Social Care spokesperson mentioned.
“We have asked the NHS in England to begin preparations to ensure they are ready to deploy Covid vaccines to those eligible.”
The precise begin date of the autumn rollout will probably be introduced nearer to the time. It’s anticipated that these eligible will have the ability to guide on-line, as with earlier vaccine appointments.
