1,000 more pharmacies for booster jabs

Third Covid jabs for half the population should be completed by Christmas with most administered by pharmacies and GPs, the NHS said. Flu jabs should be given in the same appointment as booster doses, vaccination centres were told, under plans to carry on giving 3.5 million vaccines a week throughout the autumn. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation issued interim recommendations for a third Covid vaccine for over-50s to avoid winter lockdowns. Pharmacists will do between 40 and 75 per cent of vaccinations, easing the load on family doctors struggling with pent-up demand for non-Covid care.