60m More Vaccines

Doses to be booster shots if immunity wanes or new variants are found in UK

- Martin Bagot

An extra 60million doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been bought as booster shots in Britain from autumn.

The jabs could top up immunity which wanes over time to provide added protection if new more dangerous variants emerge.

How the booster shots are prioritised will be guided by UK regulators but they are likely to be offered first to the elderly and those with existing health conditions.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Our vaccination programme is bringing back our freedom but the biggest risk to that progress is the risk posed by a new variant.