Millions of people could need a third vaccine jab in the autumn in a bid to fight off the threat of mutant Covid strains, it has been reported.
NHS chiefs are said to be hopeful that the extra dose of the inoculation can be given at the same time as winter flu jabs. But ministers reportedly face a decision about which of the new variants of coronavirus to target after a study found the current Oxford vaccine may not be able to prevent mild and moderate illnesses in the South African strain.
Currently, the government is rapidly testing about 80,000 people across England in eight key areas in the hopes of locating all cases of the South African variant of the virus.