Millions of Brits could need third Covid vaccine jab this year to ward off new mutant strains
MILLIONS of Brits could need a THIRD coronavirus vaccine this year as plans are stepped up for booster jabs to protect against new mutant strains.
Ministers have discussed plans for top-up jabs that NHS chiefs hope can be distributed at the same time as winter flu shots.
The government will have to decide which strain to target first, as the need for a top-up dose in the autumn looks increasingly necessary.
The extra vaccination could even be dispensed by high street pharmacists during the winter flu season if only the most vulnerable require it.
If all adults need another jab, vaccination centres could again be used to help aid mass distribution.
It comes as a study of around 2,000 patients found that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine may not prevent mild illnesses brought on by the South African variant.
Scientists believe that even if the vaccine has the ability to stop severe illness from the mutation, it will not be able to stop transmission of it, The Times reports.
Autumn vaccines may be needed if the "surge testing" programme is unable to halt the spread of the variant.
The rollout of the Oxford vaccine across South Africa has since been delayed, as scientists assess the best course of action.
Over 100 cases of the South African variant have been detected in the UK.
Lead researcher in the Oxford camp, Professor Sarah Gilbert, said current vaccines "have a reduction in efficacy against some of the variant viruses".
She told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, "What that is looking like is that we may not be reducing the total number of cases but there’s still protection in that case against deaths, hospitalisations and severe disease.
"Maybe we won’t be reducing the number of cases as much, but we still won’t be seeing the deaths, hospitalisations and severe disease.
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"That’s really important for healthcare systems, even if we are having mild and asymptomatic infections to prevent people going into hospital with Covid would have a major effect."
Vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi he and colleague Jonathon Van-Tam, England's deputy chief medical officer, predict that: "probably an annual or a booster in the autumn and then an annual vaccination" could be required.
Zahawi explained it would follow a similar route to flu vaccinations, where international variants are identified and a suitable vaccination is produced to "protect the nation".
