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A fourth Covid vaccine shot isn’t but wanted, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has stated, as booster shots are nonetheless offering sturdy safety in opposition to extreme illness from Omicron in older individuals.
Newest figures present that, for the over-65s, safety in opposition to hospitalisation stays at about 90% three months after the third jab, in response to the UK Health Safety Company.
Safety in opposition to extreme illness from solely two doses of the vaccine drops to about 70% after three months and 50% after six months.
It means the JCVI has really helpful the federal government continues to prioritise the third jab booster drive for all adults for now, somewhat than starting to supply a fourth vaccine dose to weak teams such because the over-80s or care residence residents.
It marks the UK’s departure from Israel’s vaccination strategy, which is pursuing fourth pictures for the over-60s and medical workers.
“The present information present the booster dose is continuous to supply excessive ranges of safety in opposition to extreme illness, even for probably the most weak older age teams,” stated Prof Wei Shen Lim, the JCVI’s chair of Covid-19 immunisation.
“Because of this, the committee has concluded there is no such thing as a fast have to introduce a second booster dose, although this may proceed to be reviewed.”
He added the information is “extremely encouraging” and emphasises the worth of a booster jab.
“With Omicron persevering with to unfold broadly, I encourage everybody to return ahead for his or her booster dose, or if unvaccinated, for his or her first two doses, to extend their safety in opposition to critical sickness.”
The information is predicated on a UK Well being Safety Company examine taking a look at booster doses within the over-65s, among the many first to be eligible for a booster from the marketing campaign’s launch in mid-September.
Knowledge on booster safety from delicate symptomatic an infection reveals it’s much less long-lasting, nonetheless, dropping to about 30% by about three months.
The JCVI stated the principle goal of the vaccination marketing campaign is to stop extreme illness – not forestall all infections, which might require an unsustainable degree of repeated vaccinations.
It comes after the UK on Friday reported 178,250 new infections, a 47% climb on the 121,371 new instances reported on Friday two weeks in the past. (Reported figures tended to be decrease over the vacation interval.)
An extra 229 Covid-related deaths have been recorded on Friday, a 67% rise on the 137 deaths reported on Friday two weeks in the past.
Omicron continues to place big stress on the NHS, with the well being service in England experiencing the best variety of Covid absences because the vaccine rollout, with greater than 40,000 staff unable to attend work on two days previously week. This has led to claims hospitals are “merely not secure”.
The share of the eligible inhabitants vaccinated with a 3rd or booster dose is now 61%, in response to authorities data, in contrast with 90.2% for a minimum of one shot and 82.8% for 2 doses.
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