Covid vaccine for under 75

At 76 you can get both vaccinations at pharmacies near us, or at the GP.

“On 13 November 2024, JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme for spring 2025, autumn 2025 and spring 2026. On 26 June 2025, the government decided, in line with JCVI advice, that a COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to those in the population most vulnerable to serious outcomes from COVID-19 and who are therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination.”
Government are just following advice from JCVI ( whoever they are). Can’t say I agree with it, though, and I’ve paid to have one, but I hope they’re right.

I won’t get one this year, am 68, my OH is 74 and wouldn’t have got one either even though he had a stroke and bleeds on the brain and so is considered high risk, but he qualifies because he has an autoimmune disease he has had for most of his life and which hasn’t bothered him for many years.
Although I am his full time carer I will have to pay for the jab.
The fact is that the qualifying criteria is too strict this year and doesn’t address the biggest problem for hospitals, this being that high risk patients who often spend time in hospital may not qualify for the jab but are most likely to contract the virus whilst in hospital for other reasons and potentially die from complications.
This can overwhelm hospitals in the winter and will lead to spending more NHS money imho than if they extend the reach of covid jabs.

Just off track slightly but my husband and I are 70 this month but have been told that because this was after the 1 September we have to wait until next year when we will be nearly 71! Any yet 65yr olds can get it now 🤷‍♀️

Is this in the UK Cressy?
Only over 75 year olds can have the jab here unless immunosuppressed or working in a care home.

My sister in law the same age as me -71 who lives in Spain is having her usual state providdd flu and Covid booster tomorrow. I do truly believe that as I said originally that this is a decision taken on financial grounds not on science or medical grounds. The sceptical part of me still feels that it is our chancellor clawing back some of the winter fuel payment she was forced to reinstate. Having said that I do understand that the NHS does not have infinite money and we are very lucky to have it, but why can’t they offer the 65-74 year olds the vaccine at cost. I am sure that the vaccine does not cost the NHS £100.00 therefore they are benefiting from saving money by not giving it to me plus making a profit from me paying for it, should I be able to afford it. I am full time carer. Who will take over my role if I should get Covid and maybe become seriously ill. I just cannot understand the government/JCVI, they expected us to behave in a responsible manner throughout the last few years, yet just changed their minds when it suits them.

Just checked Boots charges £98.95 for the Covid booster

When the Covid vaccine was being offered to the majority, many people (some here on GN) declared they wouldn’t be having it, they had already had 6……etc etc.

Now it’s being restricted, there is a huge outcry.

Everyone wants it.

🤔

I felt lucky to be offered the Covid jab with my flu jab last week at a well known pharmacy chain. I was told I qualified as I’d be 75 before 1/4/26, but later, I read that the cut off date is actually 1/1/26, so I didn’t really qualify.

DD1 is still recovering from a particularly bad bout of Covid, so having read a recent thread, I was quite prepared to pay for a jab.

I’ve got a hospital appointment on Monday about my knee and supposedly the hospital is full of viruses so I’m glad I’ve had my flu jab and paid for my covid one.

I think people are right that it’s a finance issue , what is different from last year? I’ve had a booster jab every year I’ve been offered, I’m 72 this year so don’t pass the new age criteria . Seems ridiculous to me , will arrange for my usual flu jab but would have had Covid as well if it had still been offered. I can’t afford to pay nearly £100 for it

This independent report published by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) makes the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) methodology and the reasons for the change in policy very clear.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026#advice-on-vaccination-in-autumn-2025-and-spring-2026

What follows are extracts and I would urge people to read the whole document.

Over the last 4 years, population immunity to SARS-CoV-2 has been increasing due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. The combination is termed ‘hybrid immunity’.

COVID-19 vaccines have limited to no effectiveness against infection, COVID-19 is relatively common and may manifest as a mild illness for most individuals. Consequently, many people who are hospitalised or who die during a period when SARS-CoV-2 is circulating in the community may have a concurrent SARS-CoV-2 infection that may not be the primary cause of their serious illness.

Data on hospital admissions in the UK is consistent with the clinical risk being highest in those aged 80 years and older.

Epidemiological analyses continue to indicate multiple, small waves throughout the year, with no firm evidence of seasonality. The Respiratory DataMart sentinel system indicated that SARS-CoV-2 peak positivity was lower than the peaks of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and rhinovirus in winter season 2023 to 2024.

Hospital admission rates were lower overall in the 2023 to 2024 season than previous years, with flatter peaks of hospitalisations over longer time periods, continuing the declining trend seen since 2020 as population immunity has increased.

A similar pattern was seen in intensive care unit and high dependency unit admission rates, with very low baseline rates of COVID-19 and no obvious sharp peaks in admission. This is in contrast to influenza admissions data, which signals a large seasonal peak in the winter that declines to near zero for the rest of the year.

Currently, the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the UK does not display strong seasonal features; waves of infection are present throughout the year. There is, however, still merit in a seasonal offer of COVID-19 vaccines to reduce the risk of co-infection with other winter viruses to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on NHS services during winter.

The use of cost-effectiveness is a key pillar in the consideration of immunisation programmes, ensuring that the substantial investments in the programmes are a good use of public money, and that those funds would not be better spent on other healthcare interventions. This has led to a more refined approach to the targeting of the COVID-19 immunisation programme, with a focus on individuals where there is good evidence of a high risk of hospitalisation and/or mortality.

JCVI has no role in the procurement or delivery of COVID-19 vaccines or any other vaccine.The exact price paid for vaccines used in future programmes will be dependent on the procurement process run by the UK Health Security Agency and these commercially confidential prices will not be made available to JCVI. The deployment costs of the programme per person are also variable, with the minimum cost being the relevant item of service fee (for example £10.04). Given these variables, the actual size of a cost-effective programme may be slightly smaller or larger than this advice specifies. DHSC should aim to deliver a programme which is cost-effective, as determined by the latest modelling results from the University of Warwick and based on the price of the vaccine and the cost of delivery.

Using an example cost of £25 for the combined cost of vaccine product and delivery, JCVI advises COVID-19 vaccination of:

• all those aged 75 years and over
• all residents in a care home for older adults
• all individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed

In accordance with the modelling undertaken by the University of Warwick, in the situation of a lower-than-example cost JCVI advises extending the universal offer to include people aged 70 to 74 years.

If pharmarcies are charging £100, that suggests the cost per vaccination unit is £90.

There are around 3.5 million people in the UK age 70-74 so it would cost 350 million to vaccinate them all. The cost of paying the WFP to all pensioner households is around 3 billion. I doubt the decision was anything to do with that unless a heating allowance is deemed a healthcare intervention which it isn’t. It’s deemed a pension supplement.

It’s more likely money saved has been put into increasing the uptake of the flu and pneumonia jab, infections that are more likely to lead to a hospital admission.

Like all cost measures, there’s a cut off point that leaves a demographic feeling aggrieved. If the 70-74 age group was included, people 65-69 would feel aggrieved just as pensioners last year on the cliff edge of means-tested benefits were aggrieved about the WFP.

In summary, Covid is with us year round. There’s no winter peak. Vaccination won’t stop someone from catching it. Acquired hybrid immunity built up over the last five years will mean if someone does catch it, they are unlikely to be very ill. If someone is under 80 with no underlying health condition(s), the chances of being hospitalised and dying from Covid is now slim. Vaccinating people age 75 and over allows a margin for that.

Slightly off topic, but warrants a mention - it may be worth looking around for a "private" Covid vaccination. Many places are asking for around £100 but we found a (reputable) pharmacy in our area doing these for £80.

I’m just 60 and got the Covid booster and the flu jab at my local pharmacy here in Ireland.
As I qualify for a full medical card based on my DH receiving a UK state pension, it didn’t cost me a penny. 😊

I do think that it's a cost cutting exercise but there must be a cut off point somewhere. For reference I am 72 years old. I believe the cost is £85 if you still wish to get the covid vaccination in England and don't fit the government criteria

My Husband works for the NHS ,
He won’t be eligible for the Covid Booster.
I would like to know if The Doctors & Nurses get Covid,
Who takes care of the Patients, especially those in Critical Care?
He has just paid to have it privately.

I think it's a very short sighted decision made as a cost cutting exercise. Do the govt not realise that people ending up in hospital as a result of flu or Covid will cost as much if not more than handing out free jabs? We all know the pressure the NHS is under now and this decision will likely make it worse for health care workers. It also is another example of a 2 tier health service because there must be many people who simply cannot afford to pay for the jabs themselves.

OMG are you serious???? is there a single person in here stupid and naive enough to even think about taking that corrupt poison? from day one i refused to have it refused to wear a mask "anywhere" because i knew it was a con job to manipulate us i was refused entry in shops but most of them turned a blind eye when i wasnt masked up dr faucci is an evil man

I am 78 and have cancelled my Covid vaccination. On researching the pros and cons, I discovered that it is not a vaccine but a form of gene therapy using mRNA.
Whilst I have suffered no ill effects, as far as I know, from it in the past I am no longer willing to take a chance. I believe it is disingenuous to refer to it as a vaccine because this is likely to make people think it’s the same type of thing as the flu vaccine.

I’m 65 and offered it because I take immunosuppressants. They make such a fuss over who gets these jabs, honestly. Just roll the thing out.

It's obviously a money-saving decision. The money saved is greater than the economic cost of lost lives and lost economic activity. That's my opinion. The boosters should be made available to all free of charge.

angie121

OMG are you serious???? is there a single person in here stupid and naive enough to even think about taking that corrupt poison? from day one i refused to have it refused to wear a mask "anywhere" because i knew it was a con job to manipulate us i was refused entry in shops but most of them turned a blind eye when i wasnt masked up dr faucci is an evil man

Thank you, Auntie...........Auntie Vaxxer

One would like to think that ‘experts’ would make a recommendation to Government based not on cost but medical risk. That said, it is interesting that the UK seems to have a policy divergence from both France and Canada when it comes to offering a Covid jab to the under 75s.

For example - France: ‘Vaccination against Covid-19 is recommended every year in the fall for people aged 65 and over. Anyone who wants to be vaccinated, even if they are not part of the target, can receive a dose of vaccine.

The vaccine can be administered by doctors, nurses, pharmacists (for these 2 health professionals, the patient must be over 5 years old), midwives, medical or pharmacy students (under the supervision of a practicum supervisor).

Covid-19 vaccines are supported in 100% by the Health Insurance.’

Health insurers are not known for paying for something that doesn’t benefit their financial bottom lines.

I want an anti Covid jab .
I might be able to have one at a local chemist.
My asthma is no longer under control and I often travel by bus .
The viruses that I had over the last two years have made me really unwell.
I just can't risk another infection .