Covid booster jab for over-50s: The London boroughs set to benefit the most

A Covid booster jab programme is set to benefit 2.5 million Londoners over 50, as well as healthcare workers and people deemed more vulnerable to the virus.

The programme could start within days, according to England’s deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, if ministers from all four UK nations give the go-ahead.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been approved for use as a booster jab, a Downing Street press conference was told today.

The London borough set to benefit the most from the booster programme is Bromley, where more than one-in-three residents (37%) - a total of 122,666 people - is aged over 50.

It is closely followed by both Havering and Richmond upon Thames, where over-50s make up 36% of the population, analysis of official figures shows.

Why are booster jabs being offered?

The rollout comes amid concerns that the protection offered by the vaccines fades over time.

Health bosses believe that providing a booster jab will boost this protection and help to ensure the NHS is not overwhelmed by a surge in new coronavirus cases during the autumn and winter.

However, the booster programme has been criticised by some scientists, who argue the vaccine should be prioritised for other countries which have limited supplies first.

Mr Van-Tam warned of a “bumpy” winter ahead as he set out the findings of the review of Covid-19 booster jabs.

At a Downing Street press conference, he said vaccines had been “incredibly successful” and had so far prevented an estimated 24 million Covid-19 cases and 112,000 deaths.

Mr Van-Tam added: “We also know that this pandemic is still active. We are not past the pandemic, we are in an active phase still.

“We know that this winter could quite possibly be bumpy at times and we know that other respiratory viruses such as flu and RSV are highly likely to make their returns.”