Booster shots available for under-18s from Monday before the end of Plan B
UNDER-18s can book their Covid booster jabs online from Monday.
Top-up doses will initially be available to 40,000 16 and 17-year-olds – as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to drop Covid Plan B rules.
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The NHS has revealed that almost 900,000 teenagers in this age group – around seven in 10 – have had one dose.
And around 600,000 people have already visited their second injection site.
They will be eligible for a third in the coming weeks, after a three-month gap between doses.
Invitations will be sent out to encourage high participation, with the group able to book through an online system or simply get one at the nearest drop-in centre.
Until now, boosters have only been recommended for the clinically vulnerable in this specific age group.
Analysis by the British Health Security Agency has shown that a booster shot, on top of the two doses, increases protection against Omicron.
But the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization says the NHS is unable to jab 16 and 17-year-olds who have had a positive Covid case in the last 12 weeks.
Those considered high risk must wait four weeks.
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Health Secretary Sajid Javid said last night: “We can learn to live with Covid if everyone comes forward for their vaccines and gets a boost now.”
Dr. Nikki Kanani, GP and deputy head of the NHS vaccination programme, said: “Covid has caused so much disruption to so many families over the last two years, impacting the lives and education of young people.
“I would urge everyone, whatever your age, to come forward and get that vital supplement as soon as it is possible.”
Boris Johnson is set to drop Plan B rules – such as working from home and Covid passes – from January 26, with an announcement as soon as this week.
Ministers will also discuss whether face masks will continue in indoor locations.
The number of Covid infections fell again yesterday, with 81,713 compared to 99,652 on Friday.
The seven-day rolling total was 402,686 lower than the previous week. There were 287 deaths, an increase from the 270 reported the day before.
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