PEOPLE with severely weakened immune systems, including some cancer sufferers, are being recommended to get a third Covid-19 vaccine.
The UK government's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that people aged 12 and over who were "severely immunosuppressed at the time of their first or second dose" should receive a third booster shot as they may be "less protected" than others who have received two jabs.
The advice comes as the JCVI considers recommending third booster jabs to the wider population in order to increase protection from Covid, but the committee says it is "awaiting further evidence to inform this decision".
Those now recommended to be offered a third jab include leukaemia patients, organ transplant patients and those living with advanced HIV.
The committee has warned that those with severely weakened immune systems are more likely to fall seriously ill if infected with Covid.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, chair of Covid-19 immunisation for the JCVI, said: "We want people with severely suppressed immune systems to have the best chance of gaining protection from Covid-19 via vaccination. Therefore, we are advising they have a third vaccine dose on top of their initial two doses, as we hope this will reduce their risk of severe outcomes such as hospitalisation and death."
The JCVI is recommending the the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as a third dose for those aged 12 to 17 who are severely immunosuppressed, and either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna jab for those aged 18 and above.
The recommendation has been welcomed by the Teenage Cancer Trust, whose chief executive Kate Collins said: "We know that young people with cancer continue to be worried about the threat of the virus with some young people continuing to shield and take other precautions despite restrictions lifting.
"We welcome the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's decision to provide a third vaccine dose for people over 12 who are severely immunosuppressed – including some people with cancer – as this will offer much needed reassurance and additional protection."