Spring booster vaccines for at-risk groups

Second booster jabs are to be offered to over 75s and those at highest risk of severe Covid-19 disease followign the latest advice form the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The first eligible groups will receive appointments from the second week in March.The first eligible groups will receive appointments from the second week in March.
The first eligible groups will receive appointments from the second week in March.

To protect those groups a spring booster dose will be offered at least 24 weeks after the last vaccine dose to all adults aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults and individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed, with the first groups receiving appointments from the second week in March.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We know that these high priority groups are at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19, and I therefore welcome the further advice from the JCVI and confirm Scotland will offer a further dose to these people from next month.

Vaccination has been our most effective tool against Coronavirus, and that will continue to be the case. I continue to encourage everyone to receive the doses they are eligible for as and when they become available.”

Professor Nicola Steedman, deputy chief medical officer, added: “Our vaccination programme has been highly successful, with 85% of the eligible population having had a booster or third dose vaccination and the World Health Organisation estimating some 28,000 lives saved to date in Scotland.

“However, the degree of protection wanes over time, which is why booster vaccination is needed to maintain the best protection for those at highest risk of severe effects of the virus. The additional booster dose will improve your level of protection significantly and is the best way to protect your health and those around you. I encourage anyone who is still to have any dose to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible.”