Booster jabs of the coronavirus vaccine are now being offered to give people longer term protection against the virus.

Currently, people aged 50 years and over, health and social care workers and younger people at risk are being offered a booster jab of the vaccine.

The vaccine protects people against the very infectious respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

So far, more than 70 per cent of the UK population have received their second vaccination and more than 85 per cent have received their first dose.

Why are you being offered a booster jab?

Like some other vaccines, the protection the jab offers can wane over time.

Booster jabs are being offered to make sure the protection you gained from your first two doses lasts and give you longer term protection.

The booster will help reduce the risk of you needing hospital admissions due to Covid infections this winter.

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When will I be offered the booster?

The booster jabs are being offered at least six months after the second dose of the vaccine.

Like the previous vaccine jabs, the booster will be given in your upper arm.

Protection of the virus declines slowly, so you do not need to worry if your booster vaccine is given to you more than six months after your second jab.

The booster should also help protect you from Covid into the next year.

Which vaccine will you be offered?

Either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine will be offered as a booster, both of which have already been given to millions of people in the UK.

AstraZeneca may be an option if this is the vaccine that you had for the first two doses.

You will be offered the right vaccine for your needs, which could be the same or different vaccine from your previous doses.

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Who should not have a booster?

Most people should have a booster jab, but if you had a severe reaction to previous doses it is recommended that you speak with your doctor.

Can you still catch Covid even if you get the jab?

The vaccine will reduce the chance of you suffering from Covid.

It may take a few days for the booster dose to build up protection in your system.

However, like all medicine, no vaccine is completely effective and there is still a chance some people will get Covid even though they have had the vaccine, but it will be less severe.

What should I do if I have not had a vaccine?

If you have not had any dose of the Covid vaccine then it is advised you get your first dose as soon as possible.

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