The Autumn/Winter Covid-19 booster is set to be rolled out to those at highest risk of severe Covid-19 infection. This comes following final advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to get the programme underway.
Currently, the dominant strains are on the rise, with around one in 16 people in Scotland testing positive for coronavirus in the week ending July 7. This equates to 334,000 people, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Vaccination has been our most effective tool against coronavirus. However, the degree of protection offered wanes over time. We know that those in high-priority groups are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, and I therefore welcome this latest advice from the JCVI and can confirm that boosters will be offered to all those in eligible groups.
With data suggesting that cases have risen for six straight weeks, some may be wondering if they are eligible for boosters. So, here is everything you need to know about the Autumn/Winter Covid-19 booster programme.
Who is eligible?
- residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
- frontline health and social care workers
- all adults aged 50 years and over
- those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women
- those aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- carers aged 16-49 years
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I continue to encourage everyone to receive the doses they are eligible for as and when they become available.”
How to get the booster
Right now, those who are eligible for the booster do not need to do anything as details of the delivery timetable are still underway. There are plans to deliver the Covid-19 booster at the same time as the flu vaccination to those who are eligible.
Vaccinations will be offered first to frontline health and social care workers.
Letters are set to be sent out to the first eligible groups next month, and appointments will start in September.
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