LONDONFeb 21 – Britain said on Monday it would offer more booster shots against COVID-19 to the elderly, nursing home residents and immunosuppressed people as part of a plan to learn to live with the disease without legal restrictions.
Britain’s Health Minister Sajid Javid said he would accept the recommendation from the country’s vaccine advisers, noting that all four UK nations would offer additional shots.
“We know that immunity to COVID-19 starts to decrease over time. That’s why we’re offering a spring booster to those most at risk of COVID-19 serious to make sure they maintain a high level of protection,” Javid said in a statement.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson cited success in launching vaccines and boosters against the COVID as a key factor in reopening England’s economy, and is expected to present more details of his plan to live with the COVID later Monday.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) of Britain said it advised offering additional injections as a precaution, and Javid said those eligible would be offered a vaccine about six months after their last dose.
The JCVI anticipated that an additional booster program would also be needed in the fall of 2022, although it was too early to establish the details of such a program.
“The JCVI will continue its ongoing review of the vaccination program and the epidemiological situation, particularly in relation to the timing and value of doses for the least vulnerable older adults and those in clinical risk groups before the fall of 2022″, said the president of the JCVI for vaccination against COVIDWei Shen Lim.
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