Covid Vaccine Rules Changing, Autumn Booster Offered to At-Risk Groups

COVID-19 vaccine rules in the UK are set to change, with an autumn booster shot being offered to those most at risk. UK immunisation experts have advised that all adults aged 65 years and over will automatically be offered the vaccine. In 2022, boosters were offered to all individuals over the age of 50.

Who is Eligible for the Autumn Booster?

The autumn COVID-19 booster will be offered to the following groups:

• Residents in care homes for older adults
• All adults aged 65 years and over (by 31 March 2024)
• People aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk group
• Frontline health and social care workers
• People aged 12 to 64 who are household contacts of individuals with weakened immune systems
• People aged 16 to 64 who are carers and staff working in care homes for older adults
• Pregnant women

In autumn 2022, all individuals over the age of 50 were offered an extra dose of the vaccine. However, this year, the government’s vaccine advisers recommended that only individuals aged 65 and over should automatically be included in the booster program.

Booking the COVID Booster

The NHS will contact eligible individuals to book their COVID-19 booster shot. The government aims to vaccinate as many people as possible by 31 October. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have also accelerated their booster rollout.

Those eligible for a free flu jab may receive it at the same time as the COVID-19 booster. Different vaccine options are available, including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sanofi/GSK, and Novavax. Most individuals can receive any of the vaccines, but pregnant individuals, those under 18, and those over 75 will be offered a specific jab. Individuals who do not fall into these categories cannot choose their vaccine and are advised to take the one they are offered, as all vaccines provide protection against severe illness or death.

Timing of Vaccination

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommends waiting to receive the booster shot if an individual has a high temperature or feels unwell with any illness. However, individuals who have recently recovered from COVID-19 and feel well do not need to wait. COVID-19 vaccines do not infect individuals or cause positive test results.

Vaccination Coverage

Approximately 88% of individuals in the UK over the age of 12, equivalent to 58 million people, are estimated to have received both doses of the vaccine, with 93% having received at least one dose. A small number of children aged five to 11 have also received the vaccine. These figures are based on population estimates from the Office for National Statistics in 2021 and vaccine data up until May 2022.

Changes in Vaccination Rules

Currently, the only individuals eligible for their first COVID-19 vaccination are children aged between six months and four years who are at an increased risk. Previously, two doses were required to be considered fully vaccinated. However, starting from autumn 2023, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended that only one dose will be necessary. Only those eligible for the autumn 2023 booster will be included, and individuals with weakened immune systems may be entitled to additional doses.

COVID Vaccine Side Effects

Common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are a normal part of the body’s immune response and typically resolve within a day or two. Serious allergic reactions are rare but should be discussed with a healthcare professional before vaccination.

Misinformation Surrounding COVID Vaccines

Since the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, false and misleading claims have circulated online. Many of these claims falsely argue that the vaccines are unsafe. Social media accounts with large followings often misrepresent statistics and studies to perpetuate these claims. Studies have confirmed that young people do not have an increased risk of other heart problems after receiving the vaccine. Other misinformation falsely suggests that negative events following vaccination are caused by the injection itself.