Government reveals winter Covid plan, including booster jabs for vulnerable

Mandatory wearing of face masks hasn't been ruled out

Author: Ellis Maddison & Chris MaskeryPublished 14th Sep 2021
Last updated 24th May 2022

Covid booster jabs for vulnerable groups will be given from next week as part of the Government's plan to continue to fight Coronavirus this winter.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has set out details of the winter Covid plan in a statement to parliament today (14th September).

Booster vaccines will be given to the nine vulnerable groups who were first to get the vaccine in the original rollout, this means people aged 50 and over, those in care homes and frontline health and social care workers.

Vulnerable people could be offered a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

Mr Javid told MPs: “The plan shows how we’ll give this nation the best possible chance of living with Covid without the need for stringent social and economic restrictions.”

Of the five pillars to the plan, he said the first was further strengthening pharmaceutical defences, like vaccines.

He said: “The latest statistics from the ONS show that almost 99% of Covid-19 deaths in the first half of this year were people who had not received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine. This shows the importance of our vaccination programme.”

Covid-19 Booster jabs

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will be used as the booster dose for more than 30 million people, with experts saying it is safe to be given alongside the usual winter flu jab.

People will be able to get their Covid and flu vaccines on the same day, preferably with one in each arm.

All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group for Covid (who were included in priority groups one to nine during the initial vaccine rollout) will also be eligible for a jab.

Mr Javid told Parliament: “They (JCVI) recommended that people who were vaccinated in Phase 1, that is priority groups one to nine, should be offered a booster vaccine, that this vaccine should be offered no earlier than six months after the completion of the primary vaccine course and that as far as possible the booster programme should be deployed in the same order as Phase 1.”

“I can confirm that I have accepted the JCVI’s advice and that the NHS is preparing to offer booster doses from next week.”

The news on booster vaccines comes after the Government's announcement on Monday that 12 to 15-year-olds will be given a Covid-19 vaccine.

Face masks and working from home not ruled out

Downing Street insists that plans for another lockdown will be a "last resort", but it is the government have said they will consider a return to wearing face masks in public and working-from-home measures if needed.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs contingency measures to cope with a Covid-19 surge in winter could include mandatory use of face coverings and the introduction of Covid passes.

Face masks are no longer required in most places

He told MPs: “We have seen how quickly this virus can adapt and change so we have prepared a Plan B of contingency measures that we can call upon only if they are needed and supported by the data to prevent unsustainable pressure on the NHS.

“These measures would be communicating clearly and urgently the need for caution. Legally mandating face coverings in certain settings.”

A howl of anguish could be heard at this point from Conservative former minister Sir Desmond Swayne.

Mr Javid went on: “Whilst we’re not going ahead with mandatory vaccine-only Covid-status certification now, we will be holding that power in reserve. As well as these three steps, we’d consider a further measure of asking people to work from home if they can for a limited time if that is supported by the data.

Test and Trace to continue

The Health Secretary has said test and trace, regular asymptomatic testing and support for those self-isolating and eligible will continue.

Sajid Javid told the Commons: “Testing, tracing and self-isolating have been another vital defence.

“Over the autumn and winter, PCR testing for those with Covid-19 symptoms and contacts of confirmed cases will continue to be available free of charge. Regular asymptomatic testing which identifies currently around a quarter of all reported cases, will also continue in the coming months with a focus on those who are not fully vaccinated, perhaps those in education or in other higher risk settings.

“And contact tracing will continue through the NHS Test and Trace system.

“We don’t want people to face hardship as they carry out their duty to self-isolate, so for those that are still required to self-isolate we will keep offering practical and financial support to people who are eligible and need assistance.

“And we will review these regulations and this support by the end of March 2022.”

Prime Minister to hold press conference

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to hold a news conference at Downing Street this afternoon to address the public on details of the Government's winter Covid plan, despite thedeath of his mother Charlotte Johnson Wahlon Monday.

The Covid-19 vaccines

What is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine?

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the UK on 2 December 2020. Britain was the first country in the world to approve the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19. Pfizer is an American pharmaceutical firm while BioNTech is a German biotechnology company. The vaccine is very delicate and has to be stored at -70 degrees, limiting the number of sites that can administer the jab.

What is the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine?

A vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca became the second vaccine approved for UK use on 30 December 2020. This vaccine was considered "the way out" of the pandemic in the UK, thanks to the fact it is easier to store than the Pfizer jab, making it well equipped for mass roll out. GPs and vaccination centres across the country began administering the jab in early January 2021. Under 30's in the U.K. were given the option to choose a different vaccine to this due to small risks of very rare blood clots. Instead, under-30s would typically choose the Pfizer jab or later, the moderna jab.

What is the Moderna vaccine?

The third vaccine approved for UK use on 8 January 2021 was developed by American firm Moderna. 24-year-old Elle Taylor from Wales became the first person in the UK to receive the Moderna jab in April. The Moderna vaccine is similar to the Pfizer jab in how it works but is even easier to roll out as it can be stored at -20 degrees rather than -70.

What is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine

The fourth vaccine to be be approved in the UK was Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, released under the name Janssen. Notably, It is also the first single shot vaccine in use during this vaccine rollout.

Who was the first person to receive the Pfizer vaccine?

90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first patient in the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19 outside a clinical trial. She received her jab on 8 December 2020 at Coventry's University Hospital. Mrs Keenan, who lives in Coventry, became somewhat of a fashion influencer after the charity t-shirt she wore to her vaccination appointment sold out. Profits went towards buying Christmas presents for hospital patients. The grandmother advised everyone who was offered the vaccine to take it, saying "If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too."

Who was the first person to receive the Oxford vaccine?

Meanwhile, Brian Pinker from Oxford was first to receive the AstraZeneca jab outside of a clinical trial at the age of 82. Mr Pinker, who was vaccinated on 4 January 2021, praised the medical teams administering the vaccine, saying it would allow him to "really look forward" to celebrating his 48th wedding anniversary with wife Shirley later on in the year.

When will I receive the vaccine?

Vaccines were offered according to vulnerability levels. First to be offered the jab were people in care homes and their carers, followed by those over 80 and health and social care workers. People aged 65 and above were next on the priority list and then high-risk adults under the age of 65 followed by moderate risk adults under 65. The vaccine was then rolled out by age group.

How will I know when it's my turn to get vaccinated?

When it is your turn to receive the vaccination, you will be informed by the NHS. You should only attend vaccination sites if you have been told to do so. Vaccines are provided for free by the NHS and they will never ask for bank details. Find out more about vaccine scams here.

What is a vaccine passport?

The Government debate the idea of a vaccine passport as proof of full vaccination required to enter venues like nightclubs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid later "ditched" the idea and ensured clubbers that they no longer need to be double jabbed by the end of September 2021 to get into Nightclubs or big events.

Do I need a booster jab?

Pfizer/BioNTech booster jabs are rolled out as part of the Government's winter covid plan. Shots can be given to people aged 50 and over, those in care homes and frontline health and social care workers. All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group for Covid will also be eligible for a jab. There must be at least 6 months between a 2nd vaccine dose and a booster jab.
Oxford jab scientist Sarah Gilbert says booster jabs are "not needed for all" and that they should instead go to countries with low vaccination rates.

Will children be vaccinated?

The government have also made vaccines available to children aged between 12-15 as part of the country's winter Covid plan.

What about five to 11-year-olds getting vaccinated?

All 5 to 11-year-olds in England can now receive a coronavirus jab, following advice from the JCVI and the same decision being made in Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is also expanding their vaccination programme to include the 5-11 age range. It means almost six million children in the UK will be offered the Covid-19 vaccination.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Hits Radio app.