The UK government is set to approve the sale of Covid booster jabs to the public.

Health officials in the UK have given their support to the proposal of allowing private provision of Covid booster vaccines, following the decision to raise the age limit on the NHS booster programme to 65. This means that people will soon be able to purchase booster vaccines privately in addition to the government-provided ones.

Pharmacists and private clinics may soon be allowed to sell COVID-19 vaccines like they do with the flu vaccine, although it may not be in time for this year’s booster campaign.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) supports the concept of implementing measures to address concerns over a potential new wave of the virus in autumn and winter, following scientists’ endorsement.

COVID-19 vaccinations have been provided by the NHS in the UK for free since December 2020.

The UK government recently announced changes to the Covid autumn booster programme, which will now focus on vaccinating individuals aged 65 and above, along with certain younger vulnerable groups.

The government’s top COVID-19 vaccine suppliers, Moderna and Pfizer, have emphasized their commitment to supplying the NHS. While Moderna is exploring the potential of offering vaccines for private sales to healthcare providers, the focus remains on supporting the national vaccination effort.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has given permission to vaccine manufacturers to create a private market for Covid-19 vaccines in the UK, according to a spokesperson.

The responsibility to develop the market with private healthcare providers lies with the manufacturers.

The Covid vaccines currently in use do not require new regulatory approval, according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Private COVID vaccine distribution could begin in the US this autumn, according to recent reports. Moderna and Pfizer have estimated the cost of their vaccines to be around $130 and $110 to $130 per dose, respectively.

Prof Adam Finn suggests that Covid jabs should be available for commercial purposes, according to his affiliation with the UK’s JCVI.

Employers may consider offering vaccines to their staff.

Finn believes that it would be a good idea to make vaccines available on the private market for those who want them, seeing no reason why this shouldn’t be happening.

The immunologist Prof Danny Altmann from Imperial College London highlighted that the vulnerability to Covid-19 and long Covid has disproportionately affected socioeconomically deprived individuals who are in jobs that are less compatible with remote work or taking time off when infected. He further expressed concerns that outsourcing vaccines to private medicine could worsen this divide.