London (Parliament Politic Magazine) – Despite the warning from one of the government’s top public health officials that the coronavirus has not disappeared, millions of people under the age of 65 in England will not receive flu and Covid vaccinations this winter.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which provides guidance to the UK government, announced on Tuesday that their plan for Covid vaccinations would only target individuals at a “high risk of serious disease” who are most likely to benefit from the vaccine.
Covid Booster Shots To Be Available In Care Homes
Under this plan, Covid booster shots will be made available to residents in care homes for older adults, individuals aged six months to 64 in clinical risk groups, frontline health and social care workers, people aged 12 to 64 who are carers or household contacts of individuals with immunosuppression, and all adults aged 65 and over.
It is important to note that despite the government’s decision, the threat of the coronavirus remains present. This raises concerns about the potential impact on the health and well-being of those who will not receive the vaccinations.
In May, the government made an announcement stating that individuals under the age of 65 in England would not be offered flu vaccinations this winter. Consequently, approximately 12 million people between the ages of 50 and 64 are now ineligible for both free flu and Covid-19 vaccines.
Last year Individuals Over 50 Were Offered Vaccines
Contrary to last year, when individuals over the age of 50 were offered both vaccines, the Covid jab is not available for purchase privately in the UK. As a result, those who do not meet the eligibility criteria this year will be unable to acquire the jab independently.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, the chair of Covid-19 immunisation on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), emphasized the importance of the autumn booster programme, which will primarily target individuals at the highest risk of severe illness.
These individuals stand to benefit the most from receiving a booster vaccination, as it will help prevent hospitalizations and deaths resulting from the virus during the winter months.
Dr. Mary Ramsay, the director of public health programs at the UK Health Security Agency, highlighted the ongoing presence of the Covid-19 virus and the expectation of increased circulation during the winter months, leading to a rise in illness cases.
NHS England To Annouce Details About Free Jabs
Steve Barclay, the health secretary, has confirmed that NHS England will soon announce the details regarding the accessibility of free jabs for eligible individuals. “I have now accepted the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation regarding eligibility for the 2023 autumn booster programme, aimed at safeguarding the most vulnerable individuals from Covid.
“NHS England will provide further information on how and when eligible individuals can access the autumn booster vaccine in the near future. I strongly encourage anyone who receives an invitation, including those who have not yet received their first jab, to come forward as soon as possible,” he stated.
A Covid-19 vaccine is being prepared at the St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing in London. Prominent public health officials have acknowledged that Covid-19 is still a present threat. However, despite this, routine booster vaccines will not be offered to healthy individuals under the age of 65 this autumn in order to protect them during the winter.
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Who Is Eligible For The Vaccine?
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which provides guidance to the UK government, announced on Tuesday that the vaccine would only be given to “those at high risk of serious disease”.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay confirmed that NHS England has accepted this advice, and it is expected that other UK nations will also follow suit. So, who is eligible for the vaccine? The following groups are eligible:
– Residents in care homes for older adults
– All adults aged 65 years and above
– Individuals aged six months to 64 years who are in a clinical risk group
– Frontline health and social care workers
– Individuals aged 12 to 64 who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
– Individuals aged 16 to 64 who are carers and staff working in care homes for older adults