Wales advised to roll out Covid booster jabs for over-40s

The Welsh Government have been advised to roll out Covid booster jabs for over-40s in Wales.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that people aged 40-49 years old will be boosted with either Pfizer or a half dose of the Moderna jab.

So far only people over 50, carers, frontline health and social care workers, and those with underlying health conditions have been offered a third jab.

All four governments within the UK will have to decide independently whether to offer the jab to over-40s but the Welsh Government has tended to align with the JCVI’s advice in the past.

The JCVI also said that 16 and 17 year olds, who were initially offered only a single dose, should now get a second.

New data from the UK Health Security Agency has said that three doses cuts the risk of infection by more than 93%.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, chair of Covid-19 immunisation for the JCVI, said: “Booster vaccine doses in more vulnerable adults, and second vaccine doses in 16 to 17-year-olds are important ways to increase our protection against COVID-19 infection and severe disease. These vaccinations will also help extend our protection into 2022.

“If you are eligible, please make sure to have these vaccines and keep yourselves protected as we head into winter.”