An additional booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be offered to all adults over 75 years old, and to the most vulnerable over-12 year olds in the UK this spring.
Vaccine advisers say the extra dose will help top up their protection against severe COVID-19.
And according to the BBC, an autumn COVID-19 booster programme, aimed at a wider group of people, is also planned later this year.
Until now, only people with weakened immune systems have been eligible for a fourth dose.
But this spring, fourth doses, given six months after their last dose, will be available to:
- adults aged 75 years old and over
- residents in care homes for older adults
- people aged 12 years old and over who are immunosuppressed or have weakened immune systems
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) says that vaccinating these groups is a ‘precautionary’ move and does not mean there is any current danger to their health.