Another Covid booster jab could be rolled out in the autumn, Sajid Javid has said as the government announced an increase in positive Covid cases.
As of yesterday, 516,289 people had tested positive for Covid in the last seven days, a rise of 170,230 from the previous seven days and there were 11,047 people requiring hospital treatment, up by 1,912.
Speaking on ITV’s Peston programme, the Health Secretary said ‘When it comes to vaccinations I think we rightly take the advice of our clinicians.
‘There’s a committee, it’s called the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) and we listen very carefully to what they’ve got to say.
‘They look at the data very, very carefully and their latest advice as you say is that there should be a second boost – or let’s call it a fourth dose – but to focus on those over 75, those in care homes, those who are immunosuppressed.
‘Now we will start that by the end of this month, that’s what we’ve said and we’re completely on track for that. But we listen to their advice all the time, should they come forward…’
Vulnerable people and those aged over 75 are already being offered a fourth vaccine and when pushed about the fourth jab being offered to all he said: ‘I think at some point they will and they’ve actually been clear, and their most recent advice is that they think that towards the end of this year, maybe in the autumn, there will be a need to give a lot more people a boost, an offer of a boost, but I’ll wait for that advice.’
