'I've had ten Covid jabs - do I REALLY need another?' Top virologists reveal whether it's time to give up on the injections for good - or keep going for ever...

'I've had ten Covid jabs - do I REALLY need another?' Top virologists reveal whether it's time to give up on the injections for good - or keep going for ever...

By LUKE CHAFER Published: 02:15, 30 March 2025 | Updated: 02:15, 30 March 2025 e-mail 1 View comments Five years after the first lockdown , millions will be offered yet another Covid vaccine – just months after the most recent round. Bookings for the spring booster opened last week, and about 7.5 million people in England aged 75 and over, living in care homes or with conditions that weaken the immune system are eligible.



NHS figures show that, on average, more than 1,000 hospital beds a day were taken up by Covid patients over winter, with cases rising 15 per cent and deaths 20 per cent over the past week. The jab helps reduce the risk of being hospitalised from the virus, and experts claim last year's spring booster cut the number of people falling severely ill by more than 40 per cent in those most at risk. But vast numbers of those who are eligible are no longer choosing to have the vaccine.

Only 9.8 million people in England – out of the estimated 20 million invited – turned up to have their autumn booster. Experts warn that getting the booster does not offer guaranteed protection against long Covid The uptake among under-65s with weakened immune systems was particularly low at just 22 per cent.

So does the jab really matter any more? And are there any risks to having what will be, for some, a tenth Covid vaccine? Here the UK's top virus experts explain all you need to know. Q: I have had ten Covid jabs – the last one just a few months ago. Why do I need another? A: Immunity – either from having had the virus or from a previous vaccination – wanes over time.

But this doesn't mean you need to have a booster. Research shows that protection from severe infection that would result in hospitalisation lasts around six months after a shot, but that can be less for people with weak immune systems. 'If I had an autumn jab two or three months ago, I would not be rushing to get the latest vaccine,' says Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious disease at the University of East Anglia.

'However, if you received the vaccine early in the last cycle and have an underlying health condition, there could be a benefit.' Experts say it is concerning that so many in this group are no longer booking booster appointments. 'It is a real problem.

There is a general complacency about Covid,' says Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University. 'People need to know that they can get the vaccine and that it is still needed.' 'If I had an autumn jab two or three months ago, I would not be rushing to get the latest vaccine,' says Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious disease at the University of East Anglia Q: I have heard that the jabs don't work, so why bother? A: The eligibility criteria for the booster is anyone aged 75 and over, residents in care homes and people with weak immune systems.

'These groups receive significant protection by having the vaccine,' says Professor Alex Richter, a vaccine expert at the University of Birmingham. 'It does not prevent you from getting the virus, but it does reduce the risk of serious infection and hospitalisation.' IT'S A FACT Over 175 million doses of the Covid vaccines have been given out across the UK since the start of the pandemic.

Advertisement This is why the criteria is different now to during the pandemic. Prof Richter explains: 'We have moved away from trying to protect against transmission and achieve herd immunity, which is why it was offered to younger people at one point.' Q: Is there a new variant I should be worried about? A: Scientists have warned about the increased risk from a new Covid wave.

Known as the LP family, the LP.8.1 and LP.

8.1.1 variants saw their share of new Covid infections in England almost triple to 60 per cent in just two weeks, the UK Health Security Agency revealed.

'We know that this new variant is more infectious and it should be a wake-up call,' says Prof Young. 'The booster will offer protection, so it is important those who are most vulnerable get the jab.' Q: I am 66 and had my autumn booster – so why am I not eligible this spring? A: The spring booster is given to over-75s and the autumn booster to over-65s, with the main reason being financial restraints.

Some high street chemists and private clinics will be selling and administering the Pfizer Covid vaccine, however, with costs varying from £45 to £99. To qualify, you must be 12 or over and not have had a Covid jab within the past three months. Experts advise it is worth going private for some people.

'If you are 65 to 74 and, for whatever reason, had not had the autumn jab, I would consider getting it privately – particularly if I had another health condition,' says Prof Hunter. Q: Will getting another booster protect me from long Covid? A: Not necessarily. A recent study by the University of Southampton suggested that one in ten people may have long Covid.

Symptoms including fatigue, shortness of breath, problems with memory and concentration – also known as 'brain fog' – aches, dizziness and palpitations. But experts warn that getting the booster does not offer guaranteed protection against long Covid. 'We know the condition can be triggered even by a mild infection, which the vaccine does not eliminate,' says Prof Richter.

For people already suffering from long Covid, she advises getting the jab privately as 'an infection can have a greater impact when you have the condition'. Q: Is it really safe to have this many vaccines? A: People should be reassured that there is no risk associated with taking multiple Covid vaccines, the experts claim. With some jabs, taking them in quick succession can lead to short-term side effects, but this is not the case for the Covid vaccine.

'There's nothing to be concerned about,' says Prof Hunter. 'Having another jab wouldn't worry me.' Q: I fit the criteria – what do I need to do to get a vaccine? A: Those eligible for the jab will be contacted by the NHS, either by text, email or letter.

However, you can visit the NHS website, use the NHS app or call 119 to book a jab now. There are thousands of walk-in appointments available every day, too, with a full list of locations offering the service uploaded to the NHS finder tool online. The vaccination programme closes on June 17.

What's the difference...

between coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity? Both are conditions caused by eating gluten – a protein found in bread, pasta, cereals and pastries. With coeliac disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body when gluten is eaten, causing damage to the lining of the gut and leading to diarrhoea, bloating, constipation and vomiting. Gluten sensitivity – also known as non-coeliac gluten sensitivity – has similar symptoms but is not caused by the immune system.

Patients also experience diarrhoea, bloating, constipation and vomiting, but the condition does not result in damage to the gut. While the conditions cannot be cured, they can be managed by avoiding gluten. NHS Share or comment on this article: 'I've had ten Covid jabs - do I REALLY need another?' Top virologists reveal whether it's time to give up on the injections for good - or keep going for ever.

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