This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Changes to Covid vaccine programme announced
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended to the government that plans should be made for those at higher risk of severe COVID-19 to be offered a booster vaccination in autumn 2023.
It was also advised that for a smaller group of people, such as those who are older and those who are immunosuppressed, an extra booster vaccine dose in the spring should also be planned for.
It has been noted that emergency surge vaccine responses may be required should a novel variant of concern emerge with clinically significant biological differences compared to the Omicron variant.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, Chair of COVID-19 vaccination on the JCVI, said: "The COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to reduce severe disease across the population, while helping to protect the NHS.
"That is why we have advised planning for further booster vaccines for persons at higher risk of serious illness through an autumn booster programme later this year.
"We will very shortly also provide final advice on a spring booster programme for those at greatest risk."
In England, the autumn booster campaign and the first booster offer will close on 12 February 2023. Those who are eligible are urged to come forward if they have not already.
The JCVI has also recommended that the primary course COVID-19 vaccination should move, over the course of 2023, towards a more targeted offer during vaccination campaigns to protect those persons at higher risk of severe COVID-19.
Finally, the JCVI has advised that research should be considered to inform the optimal timing of booster vaccinations to protect against severe COVID-19 for groups who are at different levels of clinical risk.
Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay
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