Covid booster doses will be offered to over-40s

All over-40s in the UK will be offered a third ‘booster’ dose of the Covid vaccine, following government scientist advice.

So far, 12.6 million people have had the booster dose, initially given to the over-50’s, front-line medical staff and people with health conditions that put them at greater risk.

Now, all over-40’s in the UK will be offered a booster dose of a Covid vaccine, which aims to top up protection and help limit the spread of the virus over winter. According to new data from the UK Health Security Agency, three doses of the vaccine cuts the risk of infection by more than 93%.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it would be an ‘utter tragedy’ if double vaccinated people became seriously ill or died ‘because they allowed their immunity to wane’, saying it was ‘increasingly obvious’ that including a booster in the concept of vaccination was necessary.

This comes after the Prime Minister was warned of the ‘storm clouds’ of new coronavirus infections happening over Europe.

‘I’m seeing the storm clouds gathering over parts of the European continent. And I’ve got to be absolutely frank with people: we’ve been here before. We remember what happens when the wave starts rolling in,’ Johnson said in a broadcast clip, referring to previous waves of infections, suggesting that relying on Booster vaccinations is one of the ways we can tackle infections.

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.