Covid booster ’enough to stop serious infection’ says expert
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Experts are warning that this winter could see soaring infections of both Covid and flu. Dubbed as the “twindemic”, the two viruses could put even more strain on the national health service. While the Covid jab is one of the main weapons against the virus, many elderly people are refusing it.
Worryingly, current soaring cases seem to be targeting mainly elderly Britons, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The ONS found that the recent Covid outbreak is being driven by those over 70 years of age, with many missing their autumn booster.
This is a stark contrast compared to previous waves which started by targeting younger demographics.
Latest testing data revealed that an estimated 1.3 million people in the UK had the virus in the week leading up to September 24.
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Furthermore, the NHS England’s most up-to-date data suggests that hospital admissions have also reached a record peak, with 9,631 infected people being in hospital beds on October 5.
This represents a 37 percent increase compared to the last highest figure, which was recorded in August.
Next week, the NHS will start sending out invitations for booster jabs as emails, letters and texts to around six million eligible Britons.
The eligible groups include either those at a higher risk from Covid or those over 75.
However, so far only 6.6 million of the 26 million eligible have had their booster.
Experts are currently worried that not enough over-70s have had their extra jab, especially as case rates seem to be the highest in this age group.
The ONS estimates that one in every 40 people over the age of 70 had the virus in its latest weekly survey.
Is Covid vaccine safe?
All of the leading health bodies agree that the jabs are not only safe but also reduce your risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19.
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All of the approved vaccines contain “a harmless version” of the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What’s more, all of the jabs had to go through several stages of rigorous clinical trials before they were approved for use.
While they can cause certain side effects, just like any other medicine, not everyone develops these unwanted effects, according to the NHS.
Furthermore, the majority of side effects are mild, leaving people with signs like a sore arm, tiredness, headache and feeling achy.
How to get a Covid booster
Not everyone will be able to book immediately, for example, people aged 50 to 64 years old will have to wait until later in autumn 2022, according to NHS England.
However, everyone eligible can book online by calling 119, or you can visit your local walk-in clinic.
Don’t forget to check if your local site is still open before visiting as many walk-ins have closed since the initial vaccination roll-out.
Remember, you should leave at least 12 weeks between your last dose and a booster.
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