Covid booster jabs set to be given out annually to combat any new variants
MINISTERS aim to dish out annual booster jabs to combat Covid and any new variants.
Ex-vaccine czar Nadhim Zahawi revealed the plan as those having a top-up passed ten million yesterday.
But Mr Zahawi, now Education Secretary, told The Sun there was no need for under-11s to be offered the jab.
On yearly boosters, he said: “Ultimately our plan, we will, I hope be the first major economy to transition from pandemic to endemic and have an annual vaccination programme.”
Downing Street insiders stressed ministers were not yet at the stage of planning annual jabs — but they would keep all data under review, given how immunity waned over time.
Any measures will not come in until at least next winter, it is understood.
Ministers are also drawing up plans to entice more vulnerable people to get a third dose by bringing back travel quarantine for those who do not have it.
Yesterday, Boris Johnson hailed the booster roll-out as the total passed 10,062,704 doses.
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Echoing The Sun’s jabs campaign, the PM urged everyone to get theirs when called.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid added: “We know immunity begins to wane after six months, and booster jabs will ensure our most vulnerable are protected.”
US children aged five and above will soon be jabbed.
But Mr Zahawi said: “I’m confident at the moment. We are not complacent but the evidence says we don’t need to move away from where we are.”
He insisted it was more important to focus on over-50s.
Face coverings for pupils in communal areas could return, and daily testing kept on if it means pupils stay in class.
Mr Zahawi said: “It’s inconvenient but a small price to pay to keep schools open. We absolutely do not want to close them.”
He said 167,000 children got jabs in half-term but local public health directors could sign off extra measures if they believed they were needed.
Yesterday there were 62 deaths and 30,305 new cases recorded.
Vaccine is key to winter with our families - Sajid Javid
THE Covid-19 booster programme has moved rapidly in recent weeks, with over 10 million people in the UK already vaccinated.
That’s around double the number getting their top-up dose since The Sun launched its campaign just over three weeks ago.
Thank you to the Sun, the NHS and everybody who has played their part in this crucial mission.
We know vaccine protection begins to wane after six months, especially for the elderly and the vulnerable,
That’s why we’re doing everything we can to roll out boosters quickly.
We’ve updated the National Booking Service to allow people to pre-book booster appointments a month in advance of becoming eligible.
This means they can book five months after their second dose — and get jabbed on the day they hit the six-month mark, reducing delays.
And flu is another virus which can be deadly over the winter — and could add significant pressure to the NHS.
I cannot stress the importance of getting your vaccine enough.
This is a call to everyone.
Whether you’re eligible for a booster, haven’t got round to your first or second jab, or your child is eligible for a dose — it is never too late to come forward.
For those not yet eligible for a top-up dose, you can still do your bit by helping your loved ones get their jabs.
By uniting behind the collective vaccine effort, we can get through this difficult winter and look forward to enjoying Christmas with our family and friends that we’ve all been patiently waiting for.
