#16,303
The UK Government removed practically all pandemic restrictions last July - and continues to resist calls to reinstate some mitigation measures (UK: NHS Confederation - Enact ‘Plan B plus’ to avoid ‘stumbling into winter crisis’) - banking instead on their high uptake of COVID vaccines to see them through the winter.
But, for the most vulnerable populations - many of whom were vaccinated 10 months or longer ago - their original vaccines are losing effectiveness. And anyone who was fully vaccinated as late as May, their protection is already beginning to wane.
All of which makes the successful rollout and uptake of booster shots critical for the UK to get through this winter. And while 10 million booster shots have been given, that is only a fraction of what is needed to avert a feared winter wave of COVID.
Yesterday the UK announced a new scheduling system which will allow people to book a third shot as much as 30 days in advance, in hopes that eligible people will get their booster promptly after the 6 months waiting period expires.
Booster bookings to be opened a month early
From Monday 8th November, the National Booking System will allow someone to pre-book their booster appointment a month before they are eligible
Published 6 November 2021
- Government and NHS updates booster booking system to allow people to book their jab a month in advance, making it easier and more convenient to get a vaccine
- Change to system means booster can be pre-booked before someone is eligible
- Booster programme continues at pace with more than 9.3 million top-up jabs already administered
- Immunity to COVID-19 reduces over time, particularly for older adults and at-risk groups
The government and the NHS have changed the booster booking system to make it even easier for people to get their jab.
From Monday 8th November, the National Booking System will allow someone to pre-book their booster appointment a month before they are eligible.
Today, the UK's Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid issued the following statement, which warns of the possible consequences this holiday season if people don't rally behind the booster shot.
People urged to get COVID-19 boosters as almost 10m people jabbed
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid urges eligible people to get their booster vaccines to top-up their immunity over winter
From:Department of Health and Social Care and The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP
Published 7 November 2021
- Sajid Javid calls on families and friends to support their loved ones to get vaccinated
- It comes as almost 10 million people in the UK have received their top-up vaccines, with three million extra invites being sent next week
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid has called for the UK to come together to help vaccinate those most vulnerable to COVID-19 with booster jabs.
He called on families and friends to support elderly loved ones and those most at risk of the virus to get their vaccines urgently to ensure they are protected over the winter months – which will save lives, reduce the pressure on the NHS and ensure the UK can continue to live with COVID-19 without restrictions.
It comes as almost 10 million people in the UK have received their top-up jabs, with seven in 10 over 80s and three in five over-50s in England already boosted.
NHS England will be inviting another three million people who will become eligible for their booster next week. More than 13 million invites, including texts, letters and emails, have already been sent to eligible people in England so far asking them to book their booster online through the National Booking Service. The additional letters due to land next week will mean around 16 million invites have been sent in England since the NHS booster programme began.
COVID-19 booster vaccines have been delivered or booked in at every older adult care home in England where safe to do so, with almost nine in 10 care homes already visited.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:
Almost 10 million people in the UK have received their COVID-19 booster and third jabs - a phenomenal achievement in under two months. As we approach this milestone, I want to thank those who have come forward and urge everybody across the nation to get vaccinated, get protected and get boosted.
We know immunity begins to wane after six months, especially for the elderly and the vulnerable, and booster vaccines will top-up their protection to keep people safe over the winter.
I strongly urge everybody who is eligible for a COVID-19 booster or flu vaccine to take up the offer as soon as you can. For those not yet eligible, please help your parents, grandparents or vulnerable loved ones get their jabs - it could save their life.
And if you haven’t yet had your first and second vaccines, it is not too late - the NHS will always be there to welcome you with open arms.
This truly is a national mission. If we all come together and play our part, we can get through this challenging winter, avoid a return to restrictions and enjoy Christmas.
The National Booking Service will be updated tomorrow (Monday 8 November) to allow those eligible for a booster vaccine - people over 50 and those most at risk of COVID-19 - to pre-book their jab five months after their second dose.
People will still receive their vaccine six months after their second dose, but the change will speed up the vaccination programme by allowing people to receive a jab the day they become eligible, rather than waiting for a convenient appointment.
People will also be able to book by calling 119 and can get vaccinated at hundreds of walk-in sites across the country six months after their second dose without an appointment. Those eligible can use the NHS online walk-in finder to locate the most convenient site.
The latest evidence from SAGE shows that protection against symptomatic disease falls from 65%, up to three months after the second dose, to 45% six months after the second dose for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and from 90% to 65% for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Protection against hospitalisation falls from 95% to 75% for Oxford/AstraZeneca and 99% to 90% for Pfizer/BioNTech.
While UK COVID cases continue to run moderately high - at least compared to the United States and Canada - they aren't anywhere near as bad as we are seeing in Eastern Europe (see chart below).
The concern of course is that a month ago, Slovenia, Georgia, and Croatia were all on par with the UK in COVID activity, and all have seen explosive growth over the past 4 weeks. A similar rise in the UK this winter - especially if their is a concurrent rise in influenza - could be disastrous for their NHS.
After last year's last minute cancellation of Christmas due to the emergence of the Alpha variant, the UK government is particularly keen to remain `open for business' this winter.
And practically speaking, they have a little over a month to get millions of COVID booster shots - and flu vaccines - into the arms of the most vulnerable if they are to succeed.
