The campaign to beat the pandemic

Press release Campaigners condemn the UK’s two-tier Covid vaccination policy

Covid Action UK’s spokesperson Joseph Healy says: “At a time when we are just
beginning to emerge from the largest Covid wave since 2022, it is simply unbelievable that the JCVI (the body responsible for vaccine policy in the UK) has decided to use an old vaccine as its autumn booster offer on the NHS. This booster will be made available to some of the most vulnerable groups in society – those aged over 65, the immunocompromised and frontline health and social care staff. However, on grounds of cost effectiveness, they have decided to use an old version of the vaccine which was targeted at last winter’s variant instead of the updated vaccines which countries like the US are making available to all. The UK now has a two-tier approach to vaccination. The elderly and most vulnerable will be offered an out-of-date vaccine, while those who can afford to buy vaccines privately will be getting the most up-to-date and effective version.”

As Professor Sheila Cruickshank ( Professor in Biomedical Sciences, University of Manchester) says: “Although using pre-procured doses means less money will be spent on the autumn booster programme, research shows older formulations of vaccines are less effective against variants which emerged after they were developed (such as the JN.1 variant). Modelling suggests they’ll be up to a third less
protective against severe disease.” She goes on to point out that only those with the means available will be able to purchase updated vaccines on the private market from pharmacies, thus cementing a two-tier health system

Joseph Healy added: “This is an appalling decision and makes the UK not only an outlier, with updated vaccines available in most other European countries, but also could contribute to the deaths and hospitalisation of some of the most vulnerable as well as increasing the levels of Long Covid considerably. There is a need for a serious rethink and for the government to intervene. This decision makes a mockery of the concept of Public Health.”