Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the United Kingdom will offer a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the form of a booster jab for residents over the age of 50 and those most vulnerable to the virus.
The aim is to roll out the program to prevent another difficult winter coping with the virus.
The booster shots, which will already be rolled out this month, were approved a day after the government also backed plans to offer a single vaccine dose to children ages 12 to 15 years old.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization advised the government to allow booster shots to anyone over the age of 50 in addition to healthcare workers, those with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying health conditions. The shots will be given no earlier than six months after the individual has received their second dose of the vaccine.
Nearly thirty million people will be eligible to receive booster shots in the UK.
The Prime Minister stood by the decision, telling reporters that this vaccination campaign will result in one of the freest societies and one of the most open economies in Europe.
Another result of the freedoms allowed in the United Kingdom is the increased number of people now contracting COVID-19.
Reports show that the number of individuals contracting the virus is significantly higher than it was this time last year, with currently over 30,000 new infections per day. However, the British government has opted not to re-introduce further virus restrictions for England, as the current vaccine strategy has lessened the number of individuals who require treatment or hospitalization for COVID-19 and has subsequently dropped death rates.
Nevertheless, Johnson noted that the government is ready to re-introduce measures over the coming weeks and months if the pressure on hospitals intensifies.
Currently, the number of people in UK hospitals diagnosed with COVID-19 is about 8,500, which is significantly down from the 40,000 hospitalized earlier this year during the catastrophic second wave of the pandemic.
The government has held the right to reserve restrictions such as mandatory mask-wearing, vaccine certifications for nightclubs in addition to other large-scale events (excluding pubs), and mandatory working from home.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization has disclosed that the Pfizer vaccine should be the primary choice for booster shots, with a half-dose of Moderna as an alternative.
The AstraZeneca vaccine, which is based on a different technology, will be offered to individuals who are unable to receive an RNA vaccine for clinical reasons.
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