Extra booster this spring for over 75s and high risk
====================================================

**An [additional booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine](https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMjIuNTM3OTUwNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5nb3YudWsvZ292ZXJubWVudC9uZXdzL2hlYWx0aC1zZWNyZXRhcnktc3RhdGVtZW50LW9uLXNwcmluZy1jb3ZpZC0xOS1ib29zdGVyLXZhY2NpbmF0aW9ucyJ9.MobO9PGPzJ7qo-eDVT3EkvXT4zBz503WfDkk_1u2zL0%2Fs%2F172374962%2Fbr%2F126955650902-l&data=04%7C01%7Cmike.bomford%40devon.gov.uk%7Cf141652ddef14b80edc708d9f615929e%7C8da13783cb68443fbb4b997f77fd5bfb%7C0%7C0%7C637811395046626204%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=MZREUc8OFWKFFunq5dqcaN734GYmqS%2Fyotzc0vjXn30%3D&reserved=0) 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](https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMjIuNTM3OTUwNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL21jYXMtcHJveHl3ZWIubWNhcy5tcy9jZXJ0aWZpY2F0ZS1jaGVja2VyP2xvZ2luPWZhbHNlJm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay5tY2FzLm1zJTJGbmV3cyUyRnVrLTYwNDY1OTgzJTNGYXRfbWVkaXVtJTNEUlNTJTI2YXRfY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RLQVJBTkdBJTI2TWNhc1RzaWQlM0QxNTYwMCZNY2FzQ1NSRj1hODM3ZjVhYzg3OTg1ZmI0OTVmMjRhNjJiYzdiNjQwMDU3ZTYxN2YzMGQ3NWQ3YmViZTAzYWYwNjg1OWY0NDkwIn0.ZA1M7HxtdbKIce8on76mTtt5YUv-uzHNrZ7yCT0clcM%2Fs%2F172374962%2Fbr%2F126955650902-l&data=04%7C01%7Cmike.bomford%40devon.gov.uk%7Cf141652ddef14b80edc708d9f615929e%7C8da13783cb68443fbb4b997f77fd5bfb%7C0%7C0%7C637811395046626204%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=LiUATktFskuOmTfUCpMZ11MYJGmpBk0pSNvbS2WrKWY%3D&reserved=0), 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.