Tag: boosters
Omicron Boosters: More Encouraging Data Emerges Around the Same Time as a New Variant – CNET
Pfizer Study Says the Updated COVID Boosters Significantly Rev Up Protection
Booster doses tweaked to target the most common omicron strain rolled out in early September, and the Food and Drug Administration said the latest data should spur more Americans to get one — especially before another expected wave of cases as people travel for Thanksgiving. Pfizer said people 55 and older who got the omicron-targeting booster had four-fold higher antibody levels than those given an extra dose of the original vaccine….
A month after receiving the new booster, antibody levels in people 55 and older had jumped 13 times higher than before the extra dose. Younger adults saw a 9.5-fold jump, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said. It had been about 11 months since the study participants’ last vaccination….
The new data “reassures us that this was a good decision to move to this bivalent vaccine,” FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks told The Associated Press. “Right now is the time for people to consider going out and get the updated” booster…. The updated doses are combination shots, tailored to offer a boost of protection against both the original coronavirus strain and the dominant BA.5 strain.
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Online booking for NHS flu jabs trailed for first time and COVID boosters for over 50s available
Millions more eligible to book autumn Covid boosters now as cases surge – are you on the list?
ALL over-50s will be able to book their flu and Covid boosters online for the first time – with hundreds of sites offering the shots together.
The NHS booking system opens on Friday to everyone eligible for the autumn top-ups.
Around 26million Brits are eligible for a Covid booster and 33m can get a free flu jab[/caption]
Clinics have so far only invited over-65s and high-risk groups for the vaccines.
Health chiefs are urging Brits aged 50 to 64 to get both jabs to head off a winter “twindemic” of Covid and flu.
Seven million people have already had an Omicron booster but this move will open bookings to a further 12m, while 33m are eligible for a free flu jab.
Amanda Pritchard, chief of NHS England, said: “The rollout is off to a flying start – we have invited and jabbed twice as many people as we did last autumn.
“This could be an extremely challenging winter for the NHS so it is vital to get your protection against both Covid and flu.
“Please come forward and book in when you can.”
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Patients visiting 200 vaccination sites will be offered both jabs at once – one in each arm.
The rollout widens as coronavirus cases are rising, with 1.3million infections across the UK at the end of September.
Hospital patient numbers in England have doubled this month and an average of 1,129 people were admitted with Covid every day last week.
Some hospitals are bringing back mask-wearing to keep cases down.
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New coronavirus jabs boost protection against Omicron and the flu vaccines are based on strains found in Australia earlier in the year.
Head of the NHS vaccine rollout, Steve Russell, said: “Vaccinations are our strongest weapon against these viruses and NHS staff are once again doing all they can to protect the public.”
People can also book their vaccines via their local GP practice or by phoning 119.
Who is eligible for a vaccine?
- All adults aged 50 and over (flu + Covid)
- Clinically vulnerable people aged 5 to 49 (flu + Covid)
- Frontline health and care workers (flu + Covid)
- Home contacts of people with weak immune systems (flu + Covid)
- Care home residents (flu + Covid)
- Pre- and primary school children (flu only)
- Pregnant women (flu only)
Millions of Brits can book Covid boosters from Monday as NHS rolls out fresh jabs
FOUR million Brits can book Covid boosters from Monday as the NHS kicks off the Omicron jabs rollout.
Invites for over-75s, vulnerable people and health and care workers are in the post and online booking opens next week.
A total of 26million Brits will be offered an Omicron jab as an autumn booster[/caption]
Public top-ups will start on September 12 and invites for over-50s will follow.
Virus cases fell by a quarter last week to the lowest level since May.
But medics fear the winter will be rough as people spend more time indoors and immunity wears off.
The vaccines have been updated for the first time since 2020 in a bid to fend off Omicron and future variants.
Amanda Pritchard, CEO of NHS England, said: “We know that this winter will be challenging, with a likely resurgence in both Covid and flu for the first time ever.
“The best way to protect yourselves and your loved ones is to get the next generation Covid vaccine as well as your annual flu jab.”
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The Office for National Statistics said Covid infections dropped 26 per cent last week to a total of 1.07million across the UK.
It is a third of the summer peak, of 3.7m in July, and means just one in every 60 people has the bug.
Kara Steel, stats buff at the ONS, said: “The number of people with Covid-19 in England is now estimated to be under one million for the first time since early June.”
A total of 26m Brits will be offered another booster this autumn.
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It will be the fourth dose for most and the fifth for those with very weak immune systems.
Vaccinators will visit care homes and housebound people next week to dish out the first doses.
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The new Moderna vaccines, which are made to target Omicron specifically, will offer better protection and slow transmission more effectively.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: “An autumn booster will top up the immunity of those most vulnerable to Covid ahead of the winter, to help us continue to live with this virus without restrictions.”