Why aren’t we all being offered an autumn Covid booster? We can’t let cost prevent us keeping Britain healthy | Sheena Cruickshank

The UK's limited vaccine offer ignores the serious threat of long Covid - and the knock-on effects on the economy

Recent headlines have been flagging that Covid may be coming back, but, as weary as we all may be of this pesky virus, the truth is that it never really went away. Unlike viruses such as flu, there is no evidence that Covid has settled into a seasonal pattern. Its constant presence means that it has plenty of opportunity to gather new mutations that continue to make it worrisome.

While we can limit the likelihood of exposure by enhancing ventilation or wearing masks, vaccination remains an important cornerstone of protection. As such, the plans to offer autumn vaccine boosters are really important. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has the tricky task of making decisions about the UK's booster plans. Factors such as population susceptibility and infection severity are typically considered, but this autumn, the JCVI has begun to include cost-effectiveness considerations in the development of its advice".