The government is to allow people to have their Covid booster jab after five months, a month sooner than the current policy, in an effort to help stop the NHS becoming overwhelmed this winter.
This major change to the vaccination programme could see ministers flouting the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which recommends that people should wait until six months after their second dose before having their top-up in order to maximise protection.
It means that millions of Britons will be able to have their booster sooner than expected to reduce the risk of hospitals failing to cope with large numbers of people becoming seriously ill with Covid during the winter months, when they always come under intense pressure.
