People aged 75 and over, the immunosuppressed and those living in care homes will be offered a Covid-19 booster vaccine. 

The Health Secretary has confirmed the fourth jab will be offered to those at the highest risk of serious Covid infections.

The booster will help them to maintain a high level of protection against the virus. 

The NHS in England will be giving the jab from around six months after their last dose and more information is expected to be announced soon.

Falmouth Packet: The Vaccination Hub at Croydon University Hospital, south London (PA)The Vaccination Hub at Croydon University Hospital, south London (PA)

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to make similar announcements after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published UK-wide advice recommending the boosters.

Sajid Javid said: “Thanks to our Covid-19 vaccination rollout, we are already the freest country in Europe.

“It has saved countless lives, reduced pressure on the NHS and is allowing us to learn to live with the virus.

“Today I have accepted the advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to offer, from spring, an additional Covid-19 booster jab to people aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and people aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed.

“All four parts of the UK intend to follow the JCVI’s advice.

“We know immunity to Covid-19 begins to wane over time.

“That’s why we’re offering a spring booster to those people at higher risk of serious Covid-19 to make sure they maintain a high level of protection. It’s important that everyone gets their top-up jabs as soon as they’re eligible.

“The JCVI will keep under review whether the booster programme should be extended to further at-risk groups.”

The vaccines used in the spring programme will be the 50mcg Moderna vaccine or 30mcg Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for adults aged 18 and over.