The NHS is being urged to get on with the rollout of fourth jabs for the elderly, amid a surge in Covid hospitalisations.

       The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) last month recommended extra boosters for those aged 75 and over.

       Scientists said these should be administered around six months after their last vaccine.

       But despite the fact it is now almost six months since the last round of boosters began, the NHS has yet to embark on the fourth rollout.

       Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary, on Thursday called for "more oomph on fourth jabs," warning of a “significant shift” in hospitalisations.

       Covid admissions among the over-85s have risen by one quarter in the last week, with a 17 per cent rise in hospitalisations across all age groups.

       Many scientists believe the trend reflects surging Covid cases, which have increased by more than 50 per cent in seven days.

       Almost half of hospital patients with coronavirus are “incidental” cases - which means they are more likely to reflect infection rates in the community, without the time lag associated with severe illness.

       But there is also concern that the patterns could reflect waning immunity among those who were the first to receive third doses.

       The NHS is drawing up plans to offer fourth jabs, but the rollout is not expected to start until early April, with most over-75s unlikely to be offered jabs before Easter.

       Prof Penny Ward, a visiting professor in pharmaceutical medicine at King’s College London, told the Telegraph: “I was surprised that they didn’t get on with it immediately to be honest.”

       She said Britain should follow other countries like Israel which “swung into action” with their fourth jabs.

       Scotland has already begun its rollout, with all over-75s being offered jabs 24 weeks after their last booster and the JCVI is understood to be keen to see England start as soon as is operationally possible.

       Prof Ward urged the committee to consider recommending shorter intervals between jabs.

       The committee met on Thursday to discuss this, but is waiting for further data on vaccine effectiveness which is due to be published next week.

       Latest data show vaccine efficacy after a Pfizer booster drops from around 90 per cent to 75 per cent at 10 to 14 weeks. The next set of data is expected to show how well this holds up at around five months.

       A third of those aged 75 and over have not had a booster in the last five months, data show.

       Earlier this week Meaghan Kall, an epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency said waning was her “leading theory” to explain recent rises in hospital admissions.

       But amid debate with fellow scientists, she came to the conclusion that the rise in overall infections was driving high levels of incidental Covid.

       Latest data from the Office for National Statistics suggests high levels of immunity among the elderly, with antibody levels above 98 per cent for those over the age of 70.

       However, Covid outbreaks in care homes have risen by 10 per cent in the last week, with 390 such incidents.

       Official figures show more than one million people had their third vaccine by the start of October, meaning they should be due fourth jabs by the end of this month.

       This includes those who are immunosuppressed who were offered extra doses earlier.

       Four million due next jab by mid-April

       By mid-April, more than four million pensioners will be due a fourth jab.

       NHS England has told vaccination services to prepare to start offering vaccines “from early April” with GPs told they will not be the main group delivering the jabs, many of which will be administered from pharmacies and mass vaccination centres.

       However health officials insisted that the “small number” of people who reach the six-month stage this month will be offered them.

       An NHS spokesperson said: “The NHS continues to follow JCVI guidance accepted by the Government, and in line with this, the NHS will be vaccinating eligible people with a spring dose six months after their first booster starting later this month for the small number of people eligible before April.”

       Dr Susan Hopkins, the chief medical advisor at UKHSA, said: “Covid-19 is still circulating at high levels due to the high transmissibility of circulating variants and expected increases in social mixing.

       “While rates of severe disease and death due to Covid-19 remain low, hospital admissions have seen a recent rise and we will continue to monitor this data closely.”

       Scientists suggested rising hospitalisations might also reflect the rise of the BA.2 variant, with some suggestions it could be more virulent.