• Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
24/7 Health News
No Result
View All Result
Home Article

COVID boosters to be sold on the high street – here’s what effect this may have on uptake

August 24, 2023
in Article
COVID boosters to be sold on the high street – here’s what effect this may have on uptake
It’s still not clear what effect these plans could have on the spread of COVID. Tong_stocker/ Shutterstock

COVID boosters will be available to buy from high-street pharmacists and private healthcare providers across the UK in 2024.

The news comes just weeks after the UK government announced that free boosters would only be available on the NHS for over-65s this autumn.

As we adapt to living with COVID, prioritising resources (such as vaccines) to the most vulnerable people seems a sensible approach. But the consequences this will have on the spread of COVID is less clear.

In many countries, most the population now have high levels of hybrid immunity against COVID, thanks to the combined effects of vaccination and immunity from COVID infections. This means our immune systems are well equipped to recognise and kill COVID if we become infected. In the UK, this high level of immunity is reflected by the low level of COVID deaths and hospitalisations presently seen compared to early in the pandemic.

From the beginning of July, however, the number of people with COVID admitted to hospital in England has started to increase. Many factors will be contributing to this upward trend – but a gradual waning of immunity to COVID may partly be to blame.

Although this waning in immunity can begin to occur within months of vaccination, it can be quickly and safely restored after a booster shot. But if boosters are less available, it may leave more people vulnerable to COVID infections – and more likely to spread the virus as well.




Read more:
COVID: here’s why cases have seen a small spike this summer


There are also many other factors that can affect the spread of COVID – such as the emergence of new variants, which may escape the immunity we’ve built over the years.

Two new COVID variants have been identified in the UK this summer – EG.5 (eris) and BA.2.86 (pirola). While the eris variant may be more transmissible and better equipped to escape the protection of vaccines, this doesn’t appear to cause more serious disease. As such, it’s considered a low public health risk.

A digital drawing of a coronavirus.
Two new variants have been identified.
ONGUSHI/ Shutterstock

But BA.2.86 has begun to raise concern due to the high number of mutations in its genetic code. At present, we don’t have enough information to determine how well this variant can escape our immunity, whether infections will be more serious and what effect this will have on health services at a time when flu and other respiratory diseases are circulating.

It’s because of this uncertainty that the panel of experts on the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommend boosters still be offered in the autumn to people who are most vulnerable to serious COVID infections, hospitalisation and death. Details on the type of booster vaccine that will be used and whether they will target single or multiple coronavirus variants are yet to be released.

Flu v COVID

Offering boosters to purchase from next year is a similar strategy to the one used for the seasonal flu vaccine.

Data from 2022’s seasonal flu vaccination campaign in England show that 82% of GP-registered patients over 65 years old had a flu vaccine. Only around 46% of over-50s (who were not vulnerable) opted for a flu vaccine. Remarkably similar levels of COVID-19 booster vaccine uptake were reported during the same time.

But with COVID boosters no longer being offered for free to under-65s this year, it raises concerns about how many people will actually pay for the COVID booster. While the incidence of serious COVID infections, hospitalisation and death are fortunately much lower in younger age groups, a large increase in infections as immunity wanes could begin to put additional strains on health services.

Another potential barrier to optional vaccine uptake is the cost. This is something that is currently being negotiated.

Cost is a factor

COVID and flu vaccine uptake was shown to be approximately nine percentage points lower in the most deprived areas of Greater Manchester in the UK, compared to the least deprived areas, especially among most minority ethnic groups. If reports are correct and private COVID boosters cost over £100, compared to the relatively low cost of a private flu shot in the UK (between £10-20), this will likely limit their uptake to those with higher incomes, presenting a significant barrier to those who can least afford them.

On the other hand, analysis of flu vaccination campaigns in the UK has shown that some people actually prefer to pay for a booster even if they’re eligible for a free vaccine because it’s more convenient. As many as 36% of the people in this study reported they would not have had a vaccine if they didn’t have the option to pay for it and have it at a time and place of their choosing.

Throughout the pandemic the vaccinations have been prioritised to the most clinically vulnerable groups. Doing so is estimated to have saved over one million lives in Europe alone – especially in those over 60 years of age. So while free boosters will continue to help protect the most vulnerable, it’s still unclear what effect this new policy will have on the spread of COVID among other groups.

The Conversation

Neil Mabbott receives grant funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council and ZOETIS.

ShareTweetSharePin
Next Post
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Can Help Reduce Cancer Risk by as Much as 40%

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Can Help Reduce Cancer Risk by as Much as 40%

Most Read

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

December 15, 2022
morning back pain

Morning Again Ache Trigger Is Not the Mattress

October 11, 2021

4 steps to building a healthier relationship with your phone

January 28, 2025

Why Circadian Rhythms Matter for Your Health

July 30, 2024
lower back pain relief exercises

5 decrease again ache aid workouts

October 11, 2021
Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

December 14, 2022
bleeding in gum

When The Bleeding in gum Is Severe ?

October 11, 2021
Good Night Sleep

6 Causes of Good Evening Sleep

October 11, 2021
3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

October 15, 2021
Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

January 3, 2023
Biden is getting prostate cancer treatment, but that’s not the best choice for all men − a cancer researcher describes how she helped her father decide

Biden is getting prostate cancer treatment, but that’s not the best choice for all men − a cancer researcher describes how she helped her father decide

May 20, 2025
Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

October 12, 2021

COVID vaccines: how one can pace up rollout in poorer international locations

October 5, 2021

Maximize Your Performance – Sync with Your Circadian Rhythms

August 9, 2024
Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

December 30, 2022

This Simple Hygiene Habit Could Cut Your Risk of Stroke, New Research Reveals

February 1, 2025

Multiple sclerosis: the link with earlier infection just got stronger – new study

October 12, 2021
Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

December 16, 2021
Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

December 1, 2021
woman covered with white blanket

Exploring the Impact of Sleep Patterns on Mental Health

August 4, 2024
Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

December 2, 2022
News of war can impact your mental health — here’s how to cope

Binge-eating disorder is more common than many realise, yet it’s rarely discussed – here’s what you need to know

December 2, 2022
FDA limits access to COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and other high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules

FDA limits access to COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and other high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules

May 21, 2025
As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

December 14, 2022
GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

December 16, 2022
Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

December 22, 2022
Nutrition advice is rife with misinformation − a medical education specialist explains how to tell valid health information from pseudoscience

Nutrition advice is rife with misinformation − a medical education specialist explains how to tell valid health information from pseudoscience

January 28, 2025
How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

July 6, 2022
How regulatory agencies, not the courts, are imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates

How regulatory agencies, not the courts, are imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates

October 24, 2021
The promise of repairing bones and tendons with human-made materials

The promise of repairing bones and tendons with human-made materials

January 4, 2022
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS

  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS