Sajid Javid urges Londoners to get Covid booster jabs ahead of Christmas

Health Secretary Sajid Javid is leading a Downing Street press conference (PA)
PA Wire

Sajid Javid today told Londoners that a Covid-19 booster jab could “save your life” — with more than a million of the doses having been administered in the capital so far.

The Health Secretary appealed to more people to get the booster to “keep safe” this winter.

The booster programme is lagging behind the success of the roll-out of first and second doses of the coronavirus vaccines. Health chiefs are warning people aged 50 and over and particularly those even older are leaving themselves at risk from the virus if they do not get a booster.

Mr Javid told the Standard: “Vaccines will protect us all this winter and could save your life by topping up your immunity which can drop after six months from having your second dose.

“Getting your booster will be one of the most important things you do ahead of Christmas to keep the virus at bay.”

Professor Peter Openshaw, chair of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), said the need for boosters had become “very clear”.

The professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London said: “These vaccines don’t appear to be forever — they do provide a lot of protection, but they have to be boosted.”

Asked if it is just the elderly at risk of not getting their booster, he added: “Well if we look at the people who are sadly still dying of Covid, it’s predominantly in those over 50.”

People eligible for a booster at least six months on from their second dose (bookable after five months) include all adults aged 50 years or over, those living in residential care homes for older adults, frontline health and social care workers, all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 and adult carers, as well as adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “The situation with Covid in the capital is finely balanced and needs all of us to act together to protect ourselves, our loved ones, the things we enjoy and our NHS this winter. That’s why I’m urging all Londoners to have the booster vaccine and flu jab as soon as you are offered it.”

People can book their coronavirus jabs at nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or if they are unable to use the website, by calling 119.

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