SOME 30 million Brits will be eligible for a booster shot under the JCVI recommendations.
Here’s everything you need to know about getting the third vaccine.
WHO IS GETTING A BOOSTER JAB AND WHEN?
PRIORITY groups include all over-50s, all 16 to 49-year-olds with serious health conditions, care home residents, health and care workers, carers and people with high-risk relatives.
The rollout will run at the same clinics in approximately the same order, starting with the oldest, but will be more flexible.
WHAT VACCINE WILL I GET?
MOST people will be offered a normal dose of Pfizer.
If the Pfizer jab is not available, a half dose of the Moderna jab will be offered.
WHY ISN’T ASTRAZENECA BEING USED AS A BOOSTER?
STUDIES found the AstraZeneca jab did not boost immunity as well as Pfizer, and had a higher risk of side effects.
WILL I BE ABLE TO CHOOSE?
NO. People have the right to leave if they do not want what they are offered, but they generally cannot choose.
WHAT PROTECTION WILL IT GIVE ME AND WILL I NEED A BOOSTER EVERY YEAR?
VACCINE chiefs hope the booster will further strengthen immunity.
The JCVI said this does not mean that people will need a booster every six months or every year. Studies will be carried out to see how well immunity lasts after the third dose.
COULD THE PROGRAMME BE EXTENDED TO THE UNDER-50s?
IT will not be extended to healthy under-50s this winter because their second doses were more recent. Younger people also have better immune systems.
