The jump in cases in July is a reminder that Covid-19 hasn’t gone away (PIcture: Getty Images)
News that the NHS is to cut back on those eligible for Covid-19 booster jabs came as the WHO declared the ‘more transmissible’ Eris strain a ‘variant of interest’.
In July, cases of Covid-19 jumped by 200,000 and experts say that Eris – a new strain of Omicron – is partly to blame and now responsible for one in seven UK Covid-19 cases. Other causes are believed to be increased indoor mixing in bad weather and waning immunity.
So far, the Eris variant has been found in United States, China and parts of the UK, though experts say that there is no evidence so far to show it is more deadly than Omicron.
Cutbacks to the vaccine programme mean that only certain people are now eligible for the next booster jab, so who can get a free one, and where?
Here is what you need to know.
Who is eligible for a free Covid booster jab?
According to gov.uk, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JVCI) has recommended that certain groups should be eligible for a booster this autumn, including frontline health and social care workers, those in care homes and adults aged 65 and older.
Booster jabs will be targeted at the most vulnerable (Picture: GEORGES GOBET/AFP via Getty Images)
Who is eligible for a free Covid booster jab in Autumn 2023?
All adults aged 65 years and over
Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book, COVID-19 chapter (Green Book)
Frontline health and social care workers
Persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts (as defined in the Green Book) of people with immunosuppression
Persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (as defined in the Green Book) and staff working in care homes for older adults
The official NHS advice does not yet specify who will be offered an autumn booster, but says: ‘You may be able to get a seasonal Covid-19 vaccine in autumn 2023 if you’re at increased risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19. For example, this may be due to a health condition or your age.
‘The NHS will contact you if your NHS record suggests you may be eligible.’
UK Covid hotspots revealed as new variant Eris fuels surge in casesPicture: Getty)
Anyone who develops a condition which weakens their immune system (or starts a treatment which has this effect) may need an additional jab before the autumn, but your GP or hospital will advise.
Those who have never had a Covid-19 jab – but fall into one of the categories above – will be offered a single dose.
Can I get a covid jab for my children?
Children aged six months to four years old who are at increased risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19 can get a first and second vaccine – and you should be contacted about this by your GP.
Anyone in a clinical at-risk group aged over six months is expected to be offered the autumn booster.
Conditions which mean adults and children may be at increased risk from Covid-19
A long-term heart condition, such as congenital heart disease or chronic heart failure
A long-term condition of the kidney, liver or digestive system
A long-term problem with the brain or nerves, such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, an inherited condition or autism
Severe or multiple learning disabilities (or being on the learning disability register), such as Down’s syndrome
Diabetes or another hormone disorder, such as Addison’s disease
A weakened immune system, due to a medical treatment (such as steroid medicine, biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy), a condition (such as leukaemia), a genetic condition or from having an organ or bone marrow transplant
Problems with the spleen, having no spleen or having a condition that can affect the spleen (such as sickle cell disease)
A serious genetic condition that affects multiple systems in the body, such as mitochondrial disease
Being pregnant (all stages)
Living in a long-stay nursing and residential care home as a younger adult
Which vaccine will be used for the autumn boosters?
The JCVI says: ‘Further advice on the choice of vaccine products for use this autumn will be provided in due course.’
Some children are eligible for the vaccine (Picture: Getty Images)
Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Public Health Programmes at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: ‘The Covid-19 virus has not gone away and we expect to see it circulating more widely over the winter months, with the numbers of people getting ill increasing.
‘The booster is being offered to those at higher risk of severe illness and by taking up the booster vaccine this autumn, you will increase your protection ahead of winter, when respiratory viruses are typically at their peak.’
When will the autumn covid booster jabs start?
No set date has yet been given.
That said, the JVCI has recommended that vaccines are completed ‘by early December 2023’.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Where can I get a covid booster?
Those eligible will be contacted by their GP.
The NHS says: ‘When available, there may be different ways you can get a Covid-19 seasonal vaccine:
Booking online
Going to a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination site
A local NHS service, such as a GP surgery
Through your care home
MORE : The one habit that makes people more likely to catch Covid
MORE : Cats stricken with deadly feline coronavirus in Cyprus treated with human Covid-fighting pills
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Share your views in the comments below
Find out who can get a jab.
