COVID booster shots for over-50s to be rolled out by autumn

The coming weeks leading up to September will see the government prepare to deploy mass amounts of Pfizer booster shots as it was proven to be the most protective against the Delta variant.

Rollout for the booster shot

It is estimated that about 23 million over-50's, vulnerable Britons and NHS and care home staff will be offered a third dose at the start of autumn. As was the case during the rollout of the vaccine earlier this year, the booster scheme will be administered in two stages—giving priority to those most at risk before extending the programme to the rest.

Meanwhile, for those who had received the AstraZeneca jab, an mRNA booster shot will be required to heighten protection. According to some studies, mixing and matching COVID vaccines has been provided to better shield against the coronavirus.

Other studies have shown that, compared to the Pfizer jab, people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine have nine times less antibodies. Further research has also shown that the Pfizer vaccine is the strongest vaccine in the market with a total protection rate of 96% against the Delta super-spreading mutation of the virus.

A necessary third jab

Health experts have expressed the vital importance of rolling out the booster shot just in time for the influenza inoculation programme amid warnings of a difficult flu season.

As of yesterday, 1 August, the UK reported another 26,000 positive coronavirus cases and 71 deaths. Data collected from Public Health England and Cambridge University revealed that about 60,000 deaths, 22 million infections and 52,000 hospitalisations have been prevented thanks to the vaccine.