spherical one in six over-80s in England have already obtained an autumn booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine, new figures counsel.
Some 16.2% of these aged 80 and over – practically half 1,000,000 folks – are estimated to have had the jab by September 18, in accordance with the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA).
An analogous proportion (16.0%) of 75 to 79-year-olds have additionally obtained the booster, together with round one in 15 (6.6%) of individuals aged 70 to 74.
- 16.2% of these aged 80 and over
- 16.0% of 75 to 79-year-olds
- 6.6% of 70 to 74-year-olds
The figures come because the variety of folks in hospital in England who’ve examined constructive for coronavirus is beginning to present indicators of a rise, after falling steadily for 2 months.
The booster roll-out started in England on September 5 with doses being given to residents in care properties.
Since September 7, folks aged 75 and over have been capable of e book an appointment for a jab, together with frontline well being and care employees, and folks with a weakened immune system.
This was widened on September 12 to incorporate all these aged 65 and over, plus carers and pregnant ladies.
NHS director of vaccinations and screening Steve Russell stated: “The autumn booster marketing campaign is off to a flying begin, with hundreds of care properties visited and practically two million folks already boosted in opposition to Covid-19 forward of winter.
“Individuals shouldn’t delay maximising their safety – everybody aged 65 and over can e book in on-line or by calling 119 to top-up their immunity.”
The variety of folks in hospital in England with Covid-19 stood at 5,142 on September 21, up 13% week-on-week, in accordance with the newest NHS knowledge.
Affected person numbers topped 14,000 in mid-July on the peak of the wave of infections brought on by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the virus.
The figures then began to fall and remained on a downwards pattern till the center of this month, since after they proven a slight enhance.
Getting a booster will give your immune system time to construct up your safety in opposition to being severely ailing from Covid-19 as we transfer into winter
Dr Susan Hopkins, UKHSA chief medical adviser, stated: “Whereas Covid-19 charges are nonetheless low, the newest knowledge for the final seven days point out an increase in hospitalisations and an increase in constructive checks reported from the neighborhood.
“For these eligible, the time to get your autumn booster is now. Getting a booster will give your immune system time to construct up your safety in opposition to being severely ailing from Covid-19 as we transfer into winter.
“Because it will get colder and we head in direction of winter, we are going to begin to see respiratory infections choose up – please attempt to keep at house if you’re unwell and keep away from contact with weak folks.”
Bookings for the booster dose could be achieved on-line or over the cellphone, so long as the particular person had their final Covid jab not less than three months in the past.
An autumn booster will ultimately be supplied to everybody aged 50 and over.
The dose is meant to extend safety in opposition to coronavirus forward of the winter, when an infection ranges are more likely to rise.
General, round one in 20 folks aged 50 and over in England (5.7%) are estimated to have already obtained their autumn booster, the UKHSA stated.
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