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Michael Tibbs receives COVID booster vaccine as NHS vaccination rollout continues

Michael Tibbs made history as one of the first and oldest to receive the Pfizer jab in the UK on 8 December, 2020, and yesterday he received his booster shot in the biggest and most successful rollout in health service history .

The 99-year-old Second World War submarine lieutenant was applauded after receiving his first jab at Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital just after his 99th birthday and has received his booster at Midhurst Pharmacy ahead of his 100th.

In just under eight months the NHS in the South East has since delivered more than 12.7 million jabs at hundreds of locations, including Reading Festival, Sandown Park Racecourse, Winchester Cathedral and the Golf Open in Sandwich.

In December, Michael was looking forward to getting out of the garden and seeing his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Since his vaccinations he has taken advantage of time with his family and is looking forward to celebrating his 100th birthday in November with his extended family, including his five great-grandchildren.

Michael, from Lynchmere, said: “I’m as grateful to receive the booster vaccination as I was to receive the first. I didn’t notice any side effects. Just a prick, and it’s done! It’s wonderful and I think it’ll make a lot of difference to everybody.”

The NHS chief executive revealed that more than 350,000 people have booked a booster last week, and urged others to follow in the footsteps of people like Michael by taking up the offer when they are invited.

Eligible individuals will be able to quickly and conveniently book an appointment via www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. People that can’t go online can book by phoning 119.

The booster programme is being delivered through existing sites including pharmacies, hospital hubs, GP practices and vaccination centres, and in line with JCVI guidance people will receive either one dose of Pfizer or half a dose of Moderna.

People could also be offered a booster dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine if they cannot have the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.

Those who are eligible for a booster at least six months on from their second dose include:

  • those living in residential care homes for older adults
  • all adults aged 50 years or over
  • frontline health and social care workers
  • all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (as set out in the green book), and adult carers adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals.