Eligibility changes will see fewer people offered covid-19 boosters

Free covid jabs for healthy under 65s have been scrapped this winter as part of the “transition stage of the pandemic recovery”.

Wales’ Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan, has accepted the advice of The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to focus the covid booster rollout on those who are most vulnerable to catching the virus.

Last year all adults over the age of 50 and pregnant women were invited to come forward for a covid booster in a bid to reduce the spread of the virus and help ease pressure on the NHS.

However autumn 2023, the JCVI is recommending a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine be offered to:

• Residents in a care home for older adults
• All adults aged 65 years and over
• Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book
• Frontline health and social care workers
• Persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts, as defined in the Green Book, of people with immunosuppression
• Persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers, as defined in the Green Book, and staff working in care homes for older adults

This advice differs slightly from the 2022 autumn programme, as the age threshold for adults who are not in a clinical risk group or a household contact of someone with immunosuppression, has increased to 65.

Ms Morgan said that the age threshold for a Covid-19 autumn booster “aligns with eligibility for flu vaccination in 2023” – which was also offered for free all adults over the age of 50 last winter.

The health minister went onto say: “Given the high proportion of older adults with comorbidities and the higher uptake seen in universal age-based programmes, the JCVI considers at this transition stage of the pandemic recovery, it is cost effective and appropriate to offer vaccination to all adults aged 65 years and over.

“The JCVI additionally advises that a primary course Covid-19 vaccination should change to consist of a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

“Eligibility for the offer of primary vaccination will be the same as for autumn 2023 booster vaccination, as the universal offer finished on 30 June.

“Alongside my UK counterparts, I have accepted this advice. Further advice on the preferred vaccine products for the autumn is expected from JCVI shortly.

“Planning is already underway by NHS organisations to prepare for the autumn programme.”