Mail Online

Don’t delay your booster shot

THE case is strong for giving a Covid-19 booster vaccine, or a third injection, to over-50s and those with chronic illnesses that put them at risk from infection.

We know, for example, two doses of the Pfizer vaccine are 90 per cent effective at preventing hospital admission if you catch the virus after being vaccinated — even with new variants. That drops to 47 per cent after five months as vaccineinduced immunity wanes. But a third jab at that point bolsters it back up, to 95 per cent.

Also, research on the over-60s shows a third jab means they’re 11 times less likely to catch Covid-19 and 19 times less likely to fall seriously ill if they do.

But there is a problem. Responsibility for the rollout of the booster programme has fallen on the shoulders of GPs just as they are dealing with a huge backlog of patients. As a result, progress is patchy.

And the adverse publicity over side-effects may misguidedly deter some elderly or vulnerable people from coming forward — even though research shows no safety concerns from a third jab.

I’d urge all those in need of a booster to do everything they possibly can to make sure they get one. It could be a very difficult winter ahead without it.

GOOD HEALTH

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2021-10-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://mailonline.pressreader.com/article/282514366741104

dmg media (UK)