NHS delivers over 3 million Covid booster jabs in just one month

Community pharmacies across England have played a big part as more than three million vulnerable people in the UK received the Covid-19 booster jabs in four weeks under the NHS booster programme launched on September 16.

The programme was initiated just two days after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) updated its advice on booster dose.

A total of 3.1 million top ups have been administered with two in five of eligible people aged 50 and over, and more than a third of health and care workers having received the third dose.

So far in England, more than 82 million vaccinations have been delivered, and well over four in five adults have had both doses, NHS stated.

Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and deputy lead for the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme, urged the eligible people to come forward for booster jab.

She said: “Currently around 6.5 million people in England are eligible for a booster including health and care workers, those with underlying health conditions and people aged 50 and over.”

The number of eligible people increases daily as more reach six months since their second jab, she added.

Acknowledging the work of NHS staff and volunteers in the vaccination drive, health and social care secretary Sajid Javid said: “Boosters are continuing to reinforce the wall of defence that vaccines have built across the country and will provide vital protection to millions – it will help keep the virus at bay.”