Research undertaken by a number of UK studies has influenced the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to give COVID-19 boosters to all adults over 50 in the autumn.
Having considered the evidence available, the JCVI’s final recommendations for this autumn’s programme are that the following groups should receive a booster dose:
- 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
In order to optimise protection over the winter months, the JCVI stressed that the autumn programme should aim to complete vaccinations by the start of December 2022.
In addition, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will be widening the offer of the free flu vaccine to more eligible groups. These additional groups will only be eligible once the most vulnerable, including previously announced pre-school and primary school children, those aged 65 years and over and those in clinical risk groups, have been offered the jab.
People in these groups have been asked not to come forward until further information is announced.
The research teams consulted by the JCVI in order to shape this advice included:
- Researchers at the UK Health Security Agency
- Modelling experts from the University of Warwick
- The COV-BOOST study
- The OCTAVE-DUO study
- The SIREN study
- The VIVALDI study
Commenting on the autumn COVID-19 booster programme, Professor Anthony Harnden, Deputy Chair of the JCVI, said:
We have provided our final recommendations for the autumn programme to ensure the NHS and wider health system has time to plan a vaccine rollout well ahead of the winter season.
The COVID-19 boosters are highly effective at increasing immunity and, by offering a further dose to those at higher risk of severe illness this autumn, we hope to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisations and deaths over the winter.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at UKHSA, said:
Widening the eligibility for the flu vaccine will help reduce the number of people getting seriously ill and ease pressures on the NHS, particularly during the busy winter period.
It is also important that everyone eligible for the COVID-19 booster gets the jab when invited, including pregnant women, who are among those at higher risk. Having COVID-19 during pregnancy can lead to complications. Getting the vaccine, including a booster, offers the best possible protection for you and your baby.