South West Surrey MP calls for Covid-19 booster jab for all
It has been announced a third dose will be made available for the clinically vulnerable.
Last updated 2nd Sep 2021
South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt has called for Covid booster vaccinations to be extended to all.
Mr Hunt says they should be offered to everyone, and not just the clinically vulnerable.
It has been announced that a third dose will be offered to those over the age of 12 with severely weakened immune systems, to increase protection.
Public Health England has said the JCVI is still considering boosters for other groups: "The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is still deliberating the potential benefits of booster vaccines for the rest of the population and is awaiting further evidence to inform this decision."
In a series of tweets Mr Hunt questions why the UK is still "hanging around" on the matter, with the latest Zoe study - which tracks cases - showing vaccine effectiveness dropping after six months
He cites reports from Israel - where boosters are now being offered - which say despite high vaccination rates, new daily infection rates are soaring.
The reports say that the third dose vaccines are however helping to reduce the rate of growth of severely ill patients in Israel.
Mr Hunt says: "The clear lesson for the UK seems to be…get on with booster jabs, not just for the clinically vulnerable but for everyone. The latest Zoe study showed vaccine effectiveness dropping after six months, so why are we hanging around?"