JCVI advises autumn Covid-19 vaccine booster for 'higher risk' patients

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised booster vaccination to be offered this autumn (2023) for those at higher risk of severe Covid-19 in its interim advice to government on the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme for 2023.

The JCVI also advised that for a smaller group of people, such as those who are older and those who are immunosuppressed, an extra booster vaccine dose in the spring should also be planned for.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, Chair of Covid-19 vaccination on the JCVI, said: “The Covid-19 vaccination programme continues to reduce severe disease across the population, while helping to protect the NHS.

That is why we have advised planning for further booster vaccines for persons at higher risk of serious illness through an autumn booster programme later this year.

We will very shortly also provide final advice on a spring booster programme for those at greatest risk.”

“In England, the closure of the autumn booster campaign and the first booster offer will be on 12 February 2023. We strongly encourage everyone who is currently eligible for a first booster and is yet to come forward to do so before the offer closes,” said UKHSA.

In its 2023 statement, the JCVI also advises that research should be considered to inform the optimal timing of booster vaccinations to protect against severe Covid-19 for groups who are at different levels of clinical risk.