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| Covid booster doses will be offered to over-40s | Covid booster doses will be offered to over-40s |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| All over-40s in the UK will be offered a third dose of a Covid vaccine, after advice from the government scientists. | All over-40s in the UK will be offered a third dose of a Covid vaccine, after advice from the government scientists. |
| The move would top up protection and help limit the spread of the virus over winter. | The move would top up protection and help limit the spread of the virus over winter. |
| Three doses cuts the risk of infection by more than 93%, according to new data from the UK Health Security Agency. | Three doses cuts the risk of infection by more than 93%, according to new data from the UK Health Security Agency. |
| The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation also said 16- and 17-year-olds, initially offered only a single dose, should now receive a second. | The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation also said 16- and 17-year-olds, initially offered only a single dose, should now receive a second. |
| So far, 12.6 million people have had a booster dose. | So far, 12.6 million people have had a booster dose. |
| They have been given to the over-50s, front-line medical staff and people with health conditions that put them at greater risk. | They have been given to the over-50s, front-line medical staff and people with health conditions that put them at greater risk. |
| How can I get my vaccine or booster? | How can I get my vaccine or booster? |
| Is my Covid vaccine wearing off? | Is my Covid vaccine wearing off? |
| People aged 40-49 will be boosted with either the Pfizer-BioNTech jab or a half dose of the Moderna vaccine, which still gives a potent immune response. | People aged 40-49 will be boosted with either the Pfizer-BioNTech jab or a half dose of the Moderna vaccine, which still gives a potent immune response. |
| This should be offered six months after the second dose. | This should be offered six months after the second dose. |
| Protection from developing Covid fell to 44% around five months after the second dose of AstraZeneca and to 63% for Pfizer. Both increased after boosting. | Protection from developing Covid fell to 44% around five months after the second dose of AstraZeneca and to 63% for Pfizer. Both increased after boosting. |
| Deputy chief medical officer for England Prof Jonathan Van-Tam said: "If the booster programme is a success and we have very high uptake, we can massively reduce worry about hospitalisation and death this Christmas and this winter for millions of people. | Deputy chief medical officer for England Prof Jonathan Van-Tam said: "If the booster programme is a success and we have very high uptake, we can massively reduce worry about hospitalisation and death this Christmas and this winter for millions of people. |
| "It is as simple and decisive as that." | "It is as simple and decisive as that." |
| The coronavirus remained "unpredictable" and "there just isn't a second to waste now", he added. | The coronavirus remained "unpredictable" and "there just isn't a second to waste now", he added. |
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| Watch: Professor Van-Tam said a Covid booster was necessary due to "waning protection" | |
| Flu-like symptoms | Flu-like symptoms |
| Experts anticipate a booster would reduce the risk of death, or severe disease needing hospital care, by even more than the 93% cut to the chances of catching Covid. | Experts anticipate a booster would reduce the risk of death, or severe disease needing hospital care, by even more than the 93% cut to the chances of catching Covid. |
| Each nation in the UK has formally accepted the vaccine scientists' advice. | Each nation in the UK has formally accepted the vaccine scientists' advice. |
| Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: "I have asked the NHS to prepare to offer those eligible a vaccine as soon as possible." | Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: "I have asked the NHS to prepare to offer those eligible a vaccine as soon as possible." |
| Chart showing that while the number of first and second vaccine doses being administered is now low in England, the number of daily booster doses is rising quickly | Chart showing that while the number of first and second vaccine doses being administered is now low in England, the number of daily booster doses is rising quickly |
| The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said the booster doses were safe and side effects mostly either a sore arm or flu-like symptoms. | The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said the booster doses were safe and side effects mostly either a sore arm or flu-like symptoms. |
| The MHRA had identified "no new safety concerns" during the booster campaign, chief executive Dr June Raine said. | The MHRA had identified "no new safety concerns" during the booster campaign, chief executive Dr June Raine said. |
| "This further strengthens our ability to ensure people are protected against Covid-19 and saves lives," she said. | "This further strengthens our ability to ensure people are protected against Covid-19 and saves lives," she said. |
| Vaccine protection does fall after the second the dose. | Vaccine protection does fall after the second the dose. |
| Covid: 'No reason' not to give boosters to under-50s | Covid: 'No reason' not to give boosters to under-50s |
| And Prof Wei Shen Lim, from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said all adults under 40 "may well be" offered a booster dose eventually. | And Prof Wei Shen Lim, from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said all adults under 40 "may well be" offered a booster dose eventually. |
| Concerns about the risk of heart inflammation, known as myocarditis, meant 16- and 17-year-olds were initially offered only one dose of a Covid vaccine. | Concerns about the risk of heart inflammation, known as myocarditis, meant 16- and 17-year-olds were initially offered only one dose of a Covid vaccine. |
| But Dr Raine said the MHRA was "not detecting any increase in risk with the second dose" and young adults should now "come forward for their second dose". | But Dr Raine said the MHRA was "not detecting any increase in risk with the second dose" and young adults should now "come forward for their second dose". |
| LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area? | LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area? |
| YOUR QUESTIONS: We answer your queries | YOUR QUESTIONS: We answer your queries |
| COVID IN SCHOOL: What are the risks? | COVID IN SCHOOL: What are the risks? |
| VACCINE: When will I get the jab? | VACCINE: When will I get the jab? |
| NEW VARIANTS: How worried should we be? | NEW VARIANTS: How worried should we be? |
| COVID IMMUNITY: Can you catch it twice? | COVID IMMUNITY: Can you catch it twice? |
| Follow James on Twitter | Follow James on Twitter |