Covid booster jab offered to thousands as variant looms - including over-65s for first time in a year By Luke Chafer Published: 01:51 BST, 6 October 2024 | Updated: 01:53 BST, 6 October 2024 e-mail View comments Thousands more people in the UK will now be offered the latest Covid booster vaccine over fears that immunity levels are waning. While for the majority of the population Covid is no longer a health concern, for some it can lead to severe symptoms and even be life-threatening. In April, over-75s were offered another vaccine along with care home residents and those with weakened immune systems.
But the autumn booster, which the NHS has started rolling out this week, will also be offered to those over 65 and healthcare workers, after research suggested these groups now have reduced protection against the virus. The last time that 65-year-olds were offered a Covid vaccine was 12 months ago. The Covid vaccine programme is set to be made smaller this autumn and in the future in order to save cash - with the virus now 'relatively mild' for most Brits The autumn Covid vaccination campaign is now being rolled out, but will you be offered the jab, will it be effective - and how else can you protect yourself? Rachel Ellis asks the experts (Stock photo) The announcement comes as experts raised concerns over a new 'rapidly spreading' variant which could lead to a spike in infections and hospitalisations in the coming weeks.
'We currently have a mix of new variants and lack of immu.