Double-jabbed elderly dying due to vaccine's waning effect warns medical chief

Double-jabbed elderly and vulnerable people have started dying of Covid-19 due to the vaccine’s waning efficacy, a chief medical advisor has warned.

The chief medical advisor for the UK Health Security Agency, Dr Susan Hopkins has said double vaccinated people are dying in hospital as the Covid vaccine starts to become less effective after six months.

Dr Susan Hopkins said on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: “We’re still seeing deaths in mainly the unvaccinated population, but increasingly, because of immune waning effects, there are deaths in the vaccinated group as well.

“The people who are dying are the same people who have died all the way through.

‘It is particularly the older age groups, so the over-70s in particular, but also those who are clinically vulnerable, extremely vulnerable, and have underlying medical conditions.

“Unless people get vaccinated we will have a long and difficult winter.”

Everyone aged over 50 and people most at risk from Covid-19 are eligible for a booster six months after their second jab.

From 8 November, the National Booking Service was updated to allow those eligible for a booster vaccine, to pre-book their jab five months after their second dose.

People will still receive their vaccine six months after their second dose, but the change will speed up the vaccination programme by allowing people to receive a jab the day they become eligible. People can also book by calling 119 and can get vaccinated at walk-in sites across the country.

Dr Hopkins said over 60 per cent of people being offered Covid booster jabs are taking it up.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “We know immunity begins to wane after six months, especially for the elderly and the vulnerable, and booster vaccines will top up their protection to keep people safe over the winter.

“I strongly urge everybody who is eligible for a Covid-19 booster or flu vaccine to take up the offer as soon as you can. For those not yet eligible, please help your parents, grandparents or vulnerable loved ones get their jabs, it could save their life.”

Mr Javid warned: if “we all come together and play our part”, the country can “avoid a return to restrictions and enjoy Christmas”.