New campaign calling on young people to get their Covid booster

A new advertising campaign to encourage 18 to 34 year olds to get their vital COVID-19 booster jabs has launched as uptake among young people is lower than other age groups.

While more than 80% of eligible adults in England have had a booster jab, just 57% of eligible 18 to 34 year olds have been boosted.

The new campaign, running across digital and radio, highlights that being unvaccinated or not booking in for your booster jab, increases your risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

Recent data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows just how important it is to get the booster jab now, with people who haven’t been vaccinated being up to eight times more likely to be hospitalised with COVID-19. The booster vaccine was shown to be 88% effective in preventing people from ending up in hospital due to Omicron two weeks after the dose is administered.

Data from the UKHSA shows over time two doses are not enough to protect people from symptomatic infection caused by Omicron. A third dose provides around 70% protection against symptomatic infection from Omicron two weeks after the booster is given.

Aston spoke to Dr Kishan Bodalia.