As we move into spring season, immunity gained through earlier COVID-19 vaccination can start to drop. The virus, although no longer causing widespread lockdowns, is still a significant health hazard, particularly to older adults and those with weakened immune systems. To keep vulnerable people safe, the NHS is once again rolling out the COVID-19 'Spring Booster' jab in 2025.

It has been five years ago that the world fell prey to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the bizarre and bewildering days of early 2020, a frightening new virus turned our world upside down. At that time, it seemed certain that everything about our lives, the manner in which we lived, breathe, speak, meet, attend colleges, offices, schools, would be irreversibly altered. Five years on, although the burden of COVID-19 was catastrophic, killing 220,000 in the UK and 7 million globally, we cannot dismiss how it affected in our social attitudes, faith, relationships, and these all are still unraveling.

This article considers the eligibility, the urgency of booster jabs, and how you can book an appointment if you're eligible.

The COVID-19 vaccine has been instrumental in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Figures released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) from last spring's booster campaign indicated that those vaccinated were 45% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19. This demonstrates the booster's ability to prevent severe illness and aid public health measures.

Though COVID-19 no longer controls daily life, the virus still presents considerable threats, especially to high-risk groups. The booster dose acts as a safety net, keeping immunity levels high against new variants.

Who is Eligible for the 2025 Spring Booster?

Eligibility for the 2025 spring booster continues to be in line with previous years, with a special emphasis on high-risk groups. The following are eligible:

Adults 75 years and over: If you are 74 but will be 75 by June 17, 2025, you are still eligible for the booster.

Care home residents for older adults: Due to the increased risks in group living environments, care home residents are eligible for the booster.

People aged six months and above with a weakened immune system: Immunocompromised individuals, such as those receiving certain medical treatments, are eligible for the booster.

These are the eligibility criteria for all four countries of the UK—England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Booking Your Spring Booster Appointment

The NHS has simplified booking the booster dose for eligible people. The 2025 spring vaccination campaign will take place from April to June, with slightly different timetables throughout the UK:

England: April 15 – June 30

Scotland: April 15 – June 30

Wales: April 15 – June 30

Northern Ireland: 15 April – 30 June

The NHS will invite you by text, email, app reminder, or letter. You don't need to wait to be invited—appointments are available to book directly through the NHS website, the NHS app, or on 119.

Also, most pharmacies provide private COVID-19 jabs for individuals who are not eligible for the free NHS booster but would like to boost their immunity.

Which COVID-19 Vaccines Are Being Used?

The NHS will be using vaccines from two main manufacturers:

• Pfizer-BioNTech
• Moderna

Both vaccines have been shown to offer robust protection against severe illness and hospitalization. The NHS recommends that people accept the vaccine that is provided, as both are of high safety and efficacy standards.

What is Immunosuppression and Eligibility?

People with weakened immune systems might experience confusion in assessing eligibility. Immunosuppression can be caused by several medical conditions and treatments, and not all immunocompromised patients automatically fall under NHS eligibility.

The Green Book, which is published by the UKHSA, provides detailed eligibility criteria for immunosuppressed individuals. Those who generally qualify are:

• Organ, bone marrow, or stem cell transplant recipients
• Patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• Patients receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating therapy
• Those with systemic steroid use of more than one month
• HIV-positive individuals
• Individuals with genetic disorders of the immune system

For a full list and more information, individuals can go to nhs.uk/get-vaccine.

Should You Get the COVID-19 Booster Shot?

Getting the COVID-19 spring booster is a proactive measure to protect personal and public health. Being up to date with vaccines, high-risk groups substantially reduce their risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

While younger, healthier populations may not require regular boosters, older adults and immunocompromised individuals benefit greatly from enhanced immunity. With millions of people eligible across the UK, widespread participation in the booster campaign will help maintain community protection and prevent undue strain on healthcare services.

The COVID-19 pandemic might have entered an endemic phase, but the virus remains dangerous to vulnerable persons. The 2025 spring booster provides a necessary layer of protection for those at higher risk and continues to provide immunity against severe illness.

If you or a loved one are eligible for the booster, make an appointment as soon as possible. Whether through the NHS or private clinicians, this easy action can ensure a real difference in your health and wellbeing.

Disclaimer: The article is for information purpose only and was sourced and updated as per the UKHSA website. Consult a healthcare professional before getting vaccinated.

A new study published in The BMJ suggests that women who skip their first mammogram face a higher risk of being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and dying from the disease. The research, released on September 24, followed over 400,000 women in Sweden for up to 25 years. As October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the findings highlight the importance of early screening.

Skipping the First Mammogram Can Increase Risk

Since the early 1990s, Sweden has offered regular mammography screenings, which have helped reduce breast cancer deaths. Yet, a significant number of women still choose to skip their first appointment. Researchers wanted to understand the long-term impact of missing this initial screening.

The study analyzed data from the Swedish mammography program and national health registries, covering nearly 433,000 women in Stockholm from 1991 to 2020. About 32 percent of women declined their first screening. Those who missed it were also less likely to attend future screenings, often leading to later-stage diagnoses and worse outcomes.

Women who skipped their first mammogram were more likely to be diagnosed with advanced cancer. The risk of developing stage III breast cancer was about 1.5 times higher, and for stage IV, it was 3.6 times higher than among women who attended their first screening.

Over the 25-year follow-up, nearly 1 percent of women who skipped the first mammogram died from breast cancer, compared with 0.7 percent among those who attended—a 40 percent higher mortality risk. Interestingly, the overall rate of breast cancer development was nearly the same in both groups, around 7.7 percent, indicating that the increased deaths were due to delayed detection, not more cases of the disease.

How Mammograms Affect Breast Cancer Risk?

Mammograms use low-dose X-rays to image the breast. While repeated radiation exposure can slightly increase the risk of cancer, the amount of radiation from mammography is minimal. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the risk is most significant when a person undergoes multiple chest X-rays over time.

A 2016 study examined women aged 40 to 74 who received annual or biennial mammograms, noting that repeated exposure could slightly raise cancer risk, particularly for women with larger breasts. However, both that study and more recent reviews conclude that the benefits of regular mammograms far outweigh the risks. Regulatory bodies like the FDA and the Mammography Quality Standards Act ensure that equipment and radiation levels remain within safe limits.

Early detection remains the key: attending the first mammogram can catch breast cancer sooner, improve treatment outcomes, and ultimately save lives.

Lewis Moody: Former England captain Lewis Moody revealed on Monday that he has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Moody, 47, retired from professional rugby in 2012 after a remarkable 16-year career that included stints with Leicester Tigers, Bath, England, and the British and Irish Lions. The flanker lifted nearly every trophy available and played in some of the most high-stakes matches in rugby history. With his diagnosis now public, many are asking: are athletes more prone to developing MND?

What Is Motor Neurone Disease?

Motor Neurone Disease is a group of neurological disorders that progressively destroy motor neurons, the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements such as walking, speaking, swallowing, and even breathing.

Messages from the brain’s upper motor neurons are transmitted to lower motor neurons in the spinal cord, which then communicate with muscles. When these signals fail, muscles begin to weaken and shrink, a process called muscle atrophy. Damage to lower motor neurons can also cause stiffness and overactive reflexes, making voluntary movements slow and difficult. Over time, MND can result in the loss of mobility and the ability to control other bodily movements.

Currently, there is no cure for MND. The disease is progressive and worsens over time, but certain treatments and interventions can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Lewis Moody, Motor Neurone Disease: Are Athletes at Higher Risk?

Recent research suggests there may be a link between contact sports and MND. A 2022 study from the University of Glasgow, which examined 400 former Scotland rugby players, found they had a higher likelihood of developing the condition. Additionally, researchers at Durham University discovered that rugby players who suffered repeated concussions exhibited biological differences that could make them more susceptible to MND.

The MND Association notes that while there is a correlation between contact sports and MND, it does not necessarily mean that playing sports causes the disease. The studies indicate a greater prevalence among athletes, but they stop short of establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

Symptoms of Motor Neurone Disease

MND often begins subtly, with symptoms appearing gradually. Early warning signs can include:

• Weakness in legs or ankles, causing difficulty climbing stairs or frequent tripping
• Slurred speech (dysarthria)
• Trouble swallowing
• Weak grip, making daily tasks like buttoning a shirt or opening jars challenging
• Muscle twitches and cramps
• Weight loss from shrinking arm and leg muscles
• Involuntary laughter or crying at inappropriate times (pseudobulbar affect)

Causes of Motor Neurone Disease

Diagnosing Motor Neurone Disease

There is no single test to diagnose MND. Doctors typically rely on symptom observation and physical examinations. To confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions, they may use:

• Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction tests
• MRI scans of the brain and spinal cord
• Blood tests
• Muscle biopsies
• Lumbar punctures

There are 3.2 million new cases of colon cancer every year, with a prediction of 1.6 million fatalities each year by 2040, reveals the World Health Organization (WHO). Colorectal cancer or colon cancer is one of the most deadly tumors in the world. Early detection and prophylactic treatment are essential because HPV is currently the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

Why Colonoscopy Matters

Dr. Emmanuel Aguh, who is a US-based physician, highlighted that a simple colonoscopy can actually save lives. The procedure offers direct visualization and real-time imaging of the colon and rectum, enabling doctors to identify abnormalities while they are still treatable.

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“Colonoscopies may sound intimidating, but they can catch colon cancer at its earliest stage, giving patients the best chance of survival. More importantly, the test allows doctors to remove precancerous polyps before they ever turn into cancer,” Dr. Aguh explained in a recent post.

Unlike other diagnostic techniques, a colonoscopy combines detection and prevention. In addition to helping identify current problems, early excision of abnormal growths lowers future dangers.

How to overcome the fear of colonoscopy?

The thought of undergoing a colonoscopy could be scary for some people, as it could trigger anxiety. However, Dr Aguh reassured patients that the procedure is performed under sedation. It makes the process painless.

“The idea of a colonoscopy can be intimidating, but here’s the truth: the procedure itself is done under sedation. You go to sleep, and when you wake up, it’s over. Yes, there may be some temporary discomfort, but it is a small price to pay for something that could save your life,” he explained.

What Happens During a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a type of endoscopic technique used specifically to examine the large intestine, which includes the colon, rectum, and anus. In the process, an endoscope is used, which is a flexible tube with a lighted camera that is moved across the colon after being cautiously entered through the rectum.

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The device then transmits images of the intestinal lining to a screen as it passes, allowing the clinician to detect polyps, inflammation, bleeding, or abnormal growths. If anomalies are found, the doctor can remove polyps immediately or take tissue samples for further examination.

Since a colonoscopy may detect and cure the disease in a single session, it is a useful preventive measure. Experts caution that colon cancer may develop silently and without symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. As a result, screening is thought to be the best method of illness prevention.

What is the right time to get a colonoscopy?

Dr. Aguh recommends beginning as early as age 30, especially for those at higher risk.

You may be due for a colonoscopy if you:

• Are over 30 years old and have never had one.
• Have not undergone screening in the past 10 years.
• Had polyps or abnormal tissue removed during a previous colonoscopy.
• Have a family history of colorectal cancer.
• Carry genetic conditions that increase risk, such as Lynch syndrome.
• Suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Since colorectal cancer often progresses without obvious signs until it is advanced, screening becomes a crucial safeguard, even if you feel healthy.

As Dr. Aguh puts it: “It may feel uncomfortable to think about, but a colonoscopy is a short, safe procedure that can protect you from a disease that claims millions of lives every year. Don’t wait for symptoms, screening is the best step toward saving your life.”