Autumn and winter Covid-19 booster vaccine to be offered to those in Scotland most at risk

An autumn and winter Covid-19 booster vaccine will be offered to those at highest risk from September.

It includes all adults who are aged 50 and over, as well as frontline health and social care workers.

Last week, figures from the Office of National Statistics showed that Covid-19 infections in the UK are continuing to fall and are now at their lowest level for more than two months.

Final advice was issued in July on the Covid-19 booster programme over the autumn and winter period by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

As well as over-50s and frontline health and social care staff, a number of other groups will also be offered an additional dose in community clinics.

They include residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults, those aged five to 49 who are in a clinical risk group including pregnant women, those aged five to 49 who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression, and carers aged between 16 and 49.

Where possible, boosters will be given at the same time as the flu vaccination to those who are eligible, the Scottish Government confirmed.

Vaccinations will be offered first to frontline health and social care workers, and those who are most vulnerable to the effects of the virus.

Letters were sent out to the first eligible groups in August, with appointments beginning in September.

Earlier this year health secretary Humza Yousaf has encouraged those who are eligible to come forward for their doses.

“The vaccination programme in Scotland continues to be a huge success and this is testament to the efforts of everyone involved in its delivery and all those who took up their appointment offers,” he said.

“Vaccination has been our most effective tool against coronavirus. However, the degree of protection offered wanes over time.

“We know that those in high-priority groups are at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19, and I therefore welcome this latest advice from the JCVI and can confirm that boosters will be offered to all those in eligible groups.

“The additional booster dose will improve your level of protection significantly and is the best way to protect yourself, your family and of course the NHS when we head into the busy winter months.

“I continue to encourage everyone to receive the doses they are eligible for as and when they become available.”