While lockdowns have disappeared and public mask wearing has dwindled to a low level, booster vaccines are here to stay. As vaccine immunity wanes over time, those who are more vulnerable will need to get top up jabs against Covid 19.
Over 151million vaccines have been given across the UK, meaning around 75% of the population are fully vaccinated. This is an ongoing effort and there are still lots of people being offered their first or second boosters, with the autumn boosters available soon.
For the elderly, vulnerable or those who work or live with the elderly and vulnerable, another round of jabs will be given to help boost protection from Covid 19 over winter. There is no date yet to when these will start to be distributed but plans are underway to begin the roll out.
Read more: Long Covid: Lump in throat and 23 other symptoms that could indicate condition
Moderna is hoping to include its new double strain vaccine in the autumn booster jabs, which the company says can protect against the original Covid 19 strain and the first Omicron variant. The bivalent vaccine from Moderna would tackle these two known versions of Covid, which has mutated greatly since appearing in 2020.
The current variants are Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, which Moderna said the new vaccine will help protect against too. However, not everyone will be able to get the top up when it is rolled out in autumn, regardless of which jab they are offered.
Here’s everyone who can get the autumn booster.
- 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
- those aged 16 to 49 years who are carers
- residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
- frontline health and social care workers
This is on top of the free flu vaccine for most of these vulnerable groups, the criteria for which has been widened to protect more people who's health may be at risk. Those eligible will be contacted by their general practitioner for both the Covid and flu jabs.
Research from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in July 2022 found that six months after getting the booster, most people will have a high level of protection (around 80% effectiveness) from becoming seriously ill with Covid. However, with the new strain of Omicron the effectiveness drops to 40% after 15 weeks.
The Moderna vaccine, and others that companies such as Pfizer are also making, will boost immunity to multiple strains at once, especially the Omicron variant. While the vaccines do not stop you from getting Covid, they can prevent people from becoming seriously ill with it.
Research by Pfizer showed that the vaccine is very effective around one to two weeks after receiving a booster jab. Another study found that after this two week period, protection is still very high.
Vaccines can be done after having Covid but time to wait after testing negative depends on your age. Over 18s or the clinically vulnerable should wait four weeks before going for a booster, while teens need to wait 12 weeks after testing negative.
Even if you have had Covid within the past two months, going for a booster is still advised because the Omicron variant is particularly strong. Getting extra protection won’t harm you and may help stop you becoming seriously ill from Covid.
The NHS will notify you in a letter if you are eligible for the autumn boosters or due a vaccination. Once this letter has arrived you can book the jab with your GP or go to a walk-in vaccination clinic near you.
READ MORE
