Anti-variant Covid vaccine to be given to 26 million over 50s by December

There are no plans to give the under-50s the fourth shot, NHS England has confirmed

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Image: PA)

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has ordered 26 million people to be bitten with the new Covid booster variant by December to ease winter pressure on the NHS.

But there are no plans to give the under-50s the fourth blow, NHS England has confirmed.

The vaccine to protect against Omicron will begin rolling out in eight days - the same day Liz Truss is expected to be confirmed as the new PM.

But so far, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization has ruled that no younger age group other than the vulnerable should receive additional protection.

A source from NHS England said: 'They decide who is eligible for shots and we deliver them.

And Independent Sage chairman Deenan Pillay said instead of handing out fourth strikes, ministers should focus on the one in ten who didn't get their first

The virologist added, "It's much more important that people who haven't been vaccinated get vaccinated. This booster isn't going to be a game changer."

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The NHS will become the first healthcare system in the world to use a bivalent that protects against both Omicron and the original virus types.

Staff and residents of nursing homes and confined people will be first in line from a week tomorrow.

The following week, the national reservations service will open for people aged 75 and over to make an appointment.

Immunosuppressed people will be able to go to GP surgeries and pharmacies to get their injections on request.

NHS boss Amanda Pritchard said: 'I would strongly encourage anyone invited to take an autumn booster and flu shot to do so promptly.

"It will give you maximum protection this winter."

And NHS Director of Immunization Steve Russell added: "This winter will be the first time we'll see the real effects of Covid and f...