Booster jabs significantly cut risk of severe Covid infections in care homes

Booster vaccines are significantly increasing the antibody responses of elderly residents in care homes, a study reveals, but low jab take up by care staff has prompted NHS England to give priority access at vaccination sites to all carers and people they care for.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham and University College London (UCL), have revealed SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses substantially increased amongst the elderly in care homes after they received a Pfizer booster vaccine.

The Vivaldi study, published in The Lancet, involved analysing the immune responses of 134 staff and residents in 19 care homes who had received a Pfizer booster vaccine, following two doses of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines.

The results show up to a twelve-fold increase in antibody response in residents without prior infection following their booster, which cut their risk of getting severe COVID-19 infections.

The study assessed the original Covid-19 strain from Wuhan and the Delta variant and the findings were based on staff and residents’ blood samples collected from 25 May to 18 November 2021.

Joint senior author of the study Laura Shallcross from UCL said “These findings emphasise just how important it is for both care home staff and residents to get a booster vaccine - particularly since the emergence of the omicron viral variant, where booster vaccination appears essential to suppress viral infection rates.”

Priority access at vaccine centres for carers

NHS England has instructed all vaccination centres to give priority access to unpaid carers and paid social care staff. This includes ‘priority lines’ to make it easier for anyone receiving or giving care to get their booster.

Carers may be asked to provide a valid ID such as a workplace photo ID or a recent letter or payslip from their employer to get priority access. Unpaid carers can use a letter issued to the care sector as proof of ID.

The Department of Health and Social Care has stated that on 23 December: ‘99 per cent of older-adult care homes have been visited to offer booster vaccinations to residents and staff.

100% of older people’s care homes to get boosters by Christmas Eve

‘The final one per cent will be visited by 24 December subject to no further COVID-19 outbreak within those care homes.’

The government has said uptake is lower amongst staff with only 34 per cent of staff and 30 per cent of staff in younger adult care homes having taken up the booster mid-December.

Data published by the UK Health Security Agency shows vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection is ‘substantially reduced’ against Omicron with just two doses over time, but a third dose boosts protection back up to over 70 per cent.

Care minister Gillian Keegan said: “Our fantastic social care workforce have shown time and time again during this pandemic the lengths they will go to deliver high-quality care in the most challenging circumstances – showing true dedication and professionalism – and I can’t thank them enough for all their hard work.

“We are calling on them to step up once again to come forward and protect themselves and those around them by getting boosted now, giving those they care

“We’re all in this together - please play your part.”