All over-65s should be among those offered an autumn Covid booster vaccine – JCVI

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All over-65s should be offered a Covid booster vaccine this autumn, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended.

The JCVI is also recommending care home residents and staff, and frontline health and social care workers, are offered boosters – as well as people in a clinical risk group and household contacts of people who are immunosuppressed.

The JCVI has published its advice as part of its latest review of the Covid vaccination programme.

Wales’ health minister, Eluned Morgan, said she has accepted the JCVI advice and confirmed the Welsh NHS is already planning the autumn booster campaign.

Mrs Morgan said: “Given the high proportion of older adults with comorbidities [more than one disease or condition] and the higher uptake seen in universal age-based programmes, the JCVI considers at this transition stage of the pandemic recovery, it is cost-effective and appropriate to offer vaccination to all adults aged 65 years and over.

“This means the age threshold for a Covid-19 autumn booster aligns with eligibility for flu vaccination in 2023.

“The JCVI additionally advises that a primary course Covid-19 vaccination should change to consist of a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Eligibility for the offer of primary vaccination will be the same as for autumn 2023 booster vaccination.”