Covid booster vaccinations are soon set to be offered alongside flu jabs, extending the roll-out by millions.
Those currently eligible for a booster jab are over-50s, NHS staff, care workers, and those deemed clinically extremely vulnerable or ‘immunocompromised’.
This means those with mild or moderate asthma and other conditions do not qualify.
READ MORE : Latest coronavirus infection rates for Greater Manchester as cases rise in five boroughs
According to insiders, health chiefs now aim to offer the shot to all adults eligible for a free flu jab, The Mirror reports.
The move is being considered in an attempt to prevent a fourth wave, as seen in Canada and Egypt, from happening in the UK.
One insider said: “It has really spooked people.
“Although Canada looks like they have ridden out the worst of it, Egypt has been hit hard and Germany is worried about another wave. We’ve got a lot of excess vaccines so it makes sense to offer them to people who are coming in for flu jabs anyway.
“There’s so much riding on having a smooth Christmas that if vaccinating millions more people will help towards that then it will be sorted out pretty quickly.”
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Tests show that protection against symptomatic Covid falls to 45pc six months after a second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine and to 65pc for Pfizer.
Early results show that a booster restores protection back up to 95.6pc. Those at high risk can now have a booster before six months, so many can get flu and Covid jabs together.
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