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| Coronavirus: Spring booster offered to elderly and vulnerable in England | Coronavirus: Spring booster offered to elderly and vulnerable in England |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Around 600,000 people in England will be invited to book an additional Covid booster this week, as the NHS launches its spring booster programme. | Around 600,000 people in England will be invited to book an additional Covid booster this week, as the NHS launches its spring booster programme. |
| The jab is being offered to adults over the age of 75, care home residents and the most vulnerable over-12s. | The jab is being offered to adults over the age of 75, care home residents and the most vulnerable over-12s. |
| About five million people in the UK will be eligible - with the first invites sent out from Monday. | About five million people in the UK will be eligible - with the first invites sent out from Monday. |
| It comes as Covid cases continue to rise across the UK, with an estimated one in every 20 people infected. | It comes as Covid cases continue to rise across the UK, with an estimated one in every 20 people infected. |
| Last month the UK's vaccines advisers said an extra dose would help top up protection against severe Covid-19, with some immunity likely to be waning. | Last month the UK's vaccines advisers said an extra dose would help top up protection against severe Covid-19, with some immunity likely to be waning. |
| Health Secretary Sajid Javid urged people "to come forward as soon as you are contacted by the NHS". | Health Secretary Sajid Javid urged people "to come forward as soon as you are contacted by the NHS". |
| Up until now, only people with severely weakened immune systems had been eligible to have four jabs - three doses plus a booster. | Up until now, only people with severely weakened immune systems had been eligible to have four jabs - three doses plus a booster. |
| From Monday, a second booster - to be administered six months after the previous dose - will be offered to: | From Monday, a second booster - to be administered six months after the previous dose - will be offered to: |
| adults aged 75 years and over | adults aged 75 years and over |
| residents in a care home for older adults | residents in a care home for older adults |
| individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed, or have weakened immune systems | individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed, or have weakened immune systems |
| Local NHS teams will also offer vaccinations in care homes - with hundreds of visits planned in the coming weeks. | Local NHS teams will also offer vaccinations in care homes - with hundreds of visits planned in the coming weeks. |
| Scotland and Wales have already launched their spring booster programmes - under the same terms. In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said it expects the spring booster vaccinations to be completed in April and May. | |
| Eligible adults will be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, with those aged between 12-18 offered the Pfizer vaccine. | Eligible adults will be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, with those aged between 12-18 offered the Pfizer vaccine. |
| NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said efforts to protect the population from coronavirus had not stopped. | NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said efforts to protect the population from coronavirus had not stopped. |
| "We have protected millions of people at speed, thanks to the efforts of our staff, aided by volunteers. They will once again rise to the next challenge," said Ms Pritchard. | "We have protected millions of people at speed, thanks to the efforts of our staff, aided by volunteers. They will once again rise to the next challenge," said Ms Pritchard. |
| UK seeing rising number of Covid infections | UK seeing rising number of Covid infections |
| Living with Covid plan to restore our freedom - PM | Living with Covid plan to restore our freedom - PM |
| Booster at least 80% effective against severe Omicron | Booster at least 80% effective against severe Omicron |
| The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said vaccinating these groups was a "precautionary" move and did not mean there was any current danger to their health. | The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said vaccinating these groups was a "precautionary" move and did not mean there was any current danger to their health. |
| But because people in these groups are at higher risk from Covid-19, have weaker immune systems than other people and were last vaccinated in September or October 2021, so their protection from vaccines might be waning more quickly. | But because people in these groups are at higher risk from Covid-19, have weaker immune systems than other people and were last vaccinated in September or October 2021, so their protection from vaccines might be waning more quickly. |
| "We must ensure those at greatest risk of serious illness from Covid are protected and spring boosters will top up people's immunity," said the government's vaccines minister Maggie Throup. | "We must ensure those at greatest risk of serious illness from Covid are protected and spring boosters will top up people's immunity," said the government's vaccines minister Maggie Throup. |
| Rising Covid cases | Rising Covid cases |
| Figures from the Office for National Statistics published on Friday show an estimated one in 20 people are infected. | Figures from the Office for National Statistics published on Friday show an estimated one in 20 people are infected. |
| The recent easing of restrictions and waning immunity from vaccines are among the factors believed to be contributing to the rise, with BA.2 - the highly infectious sub-variant of Omicron - now causing most cases. | The recent easing of restrictions and waning immunity from vaccines are among the factors believed to be contributing to the rise, with BA.2 - the highly infectious sub-variant of Omicron - now causing most cases. |
| Hospital cases are also rising, but vaccines are still helping to stop many severe cases, say experts. | Hospital cases are also rising, but vaccines are still helping to stop many severe cases, say experts. |
| Meanwhile the government continues to defend its Living with Covid strategy, lifting all restrictions in England and putting the onus on vaccinations and personal responsibility. | Meanwhile the government continues to defend its Living with Covid strategy, lifting all restrictions in England and putting the onus on vaccinations and personal responsibility. |
| Research by the government estimates that, since mid-December, some 157,000 hospitalisations have been prevented by booster doses, with 32 million top-up jabs given since the rollout began in September 2021. | Research by the government estimates that, since mid-December, some 157,000 hospitalisations have been prevented by booster doses, with 32 million top-up jabs given since the rollout began in September 2021. |
| The NHS said it also continues to offer first, second, and third doses for those who are yet to come forward for their Covid vaccine. | The NHS said it also continues to offer first, second, and third doses for those who are yet to come forward for their Covid vaccine. |