Covid-19 vaccine: Boosters

Following the successful rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine, some people who are at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19 are now being offered a booster vaccine dose. This booster dose of the vaccine is being offered to those that are eligible 6 months after their second dose. Our Medical Advisory Panel strongly advise people with ataxia to have the booster vaccine when it is offered to them. 

These groups are eligible for the Covid-19 booster: 

• All adults aged 40 years or over 
• All those aged 16-49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 (this includes chronic neurological conditions such as ataxia) and adult carers 
• Those living in residential care homes for older adults 
• Frontline health and social care workers 
• Adult carers and those experiencing homelessness 
• Adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals 

People will get a call or text from their local GP-led site, or will be invited by the National Booking Service to book their booster vaccination. Boosters are effective for topping up protection for people who have had both of their Covid-19 jabs at least 6 months ago. 

If you are not invited for your booster vaccine, contact your GP surgery. Click HERE for more information about the booster vaccine programme.

There is different advice for children under the age of 16 years. All children aged 12-15 years are now being offered a single dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, with those at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19 being offered two doses. Click HERE for the JCVI statement on Covid-19 vaccination for children aged 12-15.

Please note that we used to talk about people being ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’. This terminology is no longer being used. Some people who were previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable are still considered at high risk from Covid-19, and are being offered the booster vaccine. Click HERE for more information on groups considered at high risk from Covid-19, and advice on how to stay safe.

Latest JCVI guidance 

The NHS is working on plans to offer:

• a booster dose to everyone aged 18 years old and over 
• a booster dose to people aged 16 years old and over with a severely weakened immune system 
• booster doses from 3 months after the previous dose – currently it’s from 6 months after the previous dose 
• a 2nd dose to all children aged 12 to 15 years old who are not already eligible 

Please note that this is not yet available 

Posted 08/12/21

Disclaimer
Please understand that this advice is given on the basis of the limited information provided, and that neither Ataxia UK nor the Medical Advisor can accept responsibility for any actions arising from it.