Boris Johnson, a British coronavirus booster jab-rollout coordinator has revealed that he’s speeding up UK’s rollout.
Tonight’s address by the Prime Minister was a reminder to all that his goal of offering a jab to every adult at the end of January is being pushed back one month.
This means everyone who is 18 years old or older will be eligible to receive their booster prior to the new year.
Johnson stated that the UK was facing an emergency with its battle against the new variant and called for urgent reinforcement of the vaccine protection wall to ensure the safety and well-being of loved ones and friends.
The PM said the data was now clear that two doses of the vaccine are ‘simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need’ but the ‘good news is that our scientists are confident that with a third dose – a booster dose – we can all bring our level of protection back up’.
Launching what he described as the ‘Omicron Emergency Boost’, Mr Johnson said that in order to deliver the necessary jabs by the end of the year ‘we’ll need to match the NHS’s best vaccination day yet – and then beat it day after day’.
This will take a ‘extraordinary effort,’ he said. He also revealed that some medical appointments would have to be delayed until 2022 in order for clinicians to commit to giving jabs.
Johnson stated that anyone over the age of 18 and who received a second dose at least three months prior to tomorrow’s date will be eligible for a vaccination.
Although the formal NHS Booking System is open for younger people starting Wednesday, Mr Johnson stated that he could walk into some locations from tomorrow.
Johnson revealed that 42 military planning groups will be deployed in every part of the UK, while more vaccine sites and mobile units are also being set up. The clinics’ opening hours will be extended to seven days a săptămână.
The address to the nation came after the UK Covid alert level was raised following a rapid increase in the number of Omicron cases being recorded.
The country’s four chief medical officers and NHS England’s national medical director recommended to ministers that the UK go up to Level 4 from Level 3 after a further 1,239 confirmed cases of the mutant strain were recorded across the country as of Sunday.
That brings the total number of UK cases of Omicron to 3,137, a 65 per cent increase from Saturday’s total of 1,898 cases.
The lowest level is Level 4. This is coronavirus Is ‘in general circulation’.
Nadhim Zahawi, Education Secretary, revealed today that Omicron patients are being treated at UK hospitals. However, health officials said there has yet to be an Omicron-related death.
This booster announcement comes as Johnson is preparing for a Tory rebellion at the House of Commons Tuesday, when MPs are scheduled to vote on Johnson’s “Plan B” measures.
Labour stated that it would support the new curbs. These include introducing vaccine passports in nightclubs, making facemasks compulsory for most indoor public venues and encouraging people to work at home.
The new restrictions have provoked Tory fury, with at least 60 Conservative MPs rumored to plan to rebel against the package.
Labour support will mean that “Plan B” will be accepted by the Commons, regardless of a large Tory revolt. But should such an event occur it would have been the largest Premiership Mr Johnson has ever had and would constitute a serious blow to Johnson’s authority.
Boris Johnson, a British coronavirus booster jab-rollout coordinator has revealed that he’s speeding up UK’s rollout.
After the UK had reported 1,239 additional confirmed Omicron cases, the UK Covid alert level has been raised to level 4.
In his speech, Mr Johnson stated that the UK was a’very good country.Now we are facing an emergency with Omicron’s new variant. We must immediately strengthen our vaccination protection wall to ensure the safety of our family and friends.
Referring to the decision to raise the Covid alert level, Mr Johnson said: ‘No-one should be in any doubt: there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming, and I’m afraid it is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need.
‘But the good news is that our scientists are confident that with a third dose – a booster dose – we can all bring our level of protection back up.
‘And I know there will be some people watching who will be asking whether Omicron is less severe than previous variants, and whether we really need to go out and get that booster. Yes, we do.
‘Do not make the mistake of thinking Omicron can’t hurt you; can’t make you and your loved ones seriously ill. We’ve already seen hospitalisations doubling in a week in South Africa. Omicron patients are in hospitals in the UK.
‘At this point our scientists cannot say that Omicron is less severe, and even if that proved to be true, we already know it is so much more transmissible, that a wave of Omicron through a population that was not boosted would risk a level of hospitalisation that could overwhelm our NHS and lead sadly to very many deaths.’
Johnson said that Government must act quickly to boost the jabs. Johnson also launched the ‘Omicron Emergency Boost’, which he described a national effort unlike anything else in the vaccination program.
He stated that he had promised to offer every adult eligible a boost by January’s end a fortnight back. In light of the Omicron Emergency today, I’m moving that goal forward by one month.
“Everyone over 18 in England who is eligible will be able to have their booster by the New Year. Today, we spoke to the Devolved Administrations and confirmed that the UK Government would provide extra support to speed up vaccinations in Scotland (Wales) and Northern Ireland.
‘To hit the pace we need, we’ll need to match the NHS’s best vaccination day yet – and then beat it day after day. This will require an extraordinary effort and as we focus on boosters and make this new target achievable, it will mean some other appointments will need to be postponed until the New Year.’
Johnson announced that all adult who had received the second dose of vaccine within the last three months will have access to the booster program in England starting tomorrow.
Delivering a plea to the nation, the PM said: ‘If you haven’t yet had a vaccine at all, then please get yourself at least some protection with a jab as quickly as possible. If you’ve already had your booster, encourage your friends and family to do the same.
We are a great land. The vaccines are available to help protect the people of this country. So let’s do it. Let’s Get Boosted Now. Get Boosted now for you, your friends, and your family. Get Boosted Today to help protect your country’s jobs and livelihoods. Get Boosted to Protect Our NHS, Freedoms, and Way of Life Get Boosted Right Now.
This afternoon, the Government declared that The total number of Omicron variants in England has increased to 1,196.
There were also 38 cases confirmed in Scotland where the Omicron variant was confirmed.
In Wales, 15 confirmed cases have been reported, but there were no additional cases in the past 24 hours, and in Northern Ireland, there were five additional cases, taking the total there to 10.
As of Sunday 9am, 48.854 Covid-19-positive cases had been confirmed by labs in the UK. A further 52 individuals died in the 28-day period after being tested positive for Covid-19, according to the Government.
The UK’s chief medical officers – England’s CMO Professor Chris Whitty, Northern Ireland’s Sir Michael McBride, Scotland’s Professor Gregor Smith, and Wales’ Dr Frank Atherton, along with NHS England’s national medical director Professor Stephen Powis – said the alert level needed to rise because of the ‘rapid increase in Omicron cases’.
The researchers stated that although COVID-19 transmission is high, it’s mainly driven by Delta. However, Omicron has added risk and will increase the danger to both the public health and the healthcare system.
Early evidence indicates that Omicron has spread faster than Delta. Vaccine protection for Omicron-related symptoms is also reduced.
“Data regarding severity will be clearer in the coming weeks, but Omicron hospitalisations are already taking place and they are expected to continue growing rapidly.”
Health experts stated that Omicron is causing a reduction in vaccine protection. It is important to add protection by using a booster.
London School of Tropical Health and Medicine has produced models that show the path of Omicron Covid waves in the UK. They do not include any additional measures. Medium case assumes that boosters offer high levels of disease protection, with high Omicron vaccine escape rates. However, the modelling does not show hospitalisations that exceed January 2021’s peak. The modelers also did not consider Omicron-related reductions in severity.
London School of Tropical Health and Medicine models show the path of Omicron Covid in the UK if security measures are restored. As boosters are not effective in protecting against Omicron, and because there are so many people who have evaded the infection by vaccines, this is considered to be the worst possible scenario.
They stated that both booster vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna) significantly increased the immune system and showed good effectiveness, although some decreases compared with Delta.
“The NHS is under significant pressure right now, mainly due to non-COVID pressures. This is likely to increase as there are more cases of a disease that causes increased transmission and reduces vaccine effectiveness.
‘It is extremely important that if you are eligible, you get your COVID vaccination now – whether this be your first, second or booster dose.
“People need to continue taking sensible precautions such as ventilating their rooms and covering their faces, testing frequently, isolating when necessary, and using face masks.
The spread of this mutant strain has been described by Mr Zahawi as one-third of all London cases.
He described the emergence of Omicron as a ‘huge bump in the road’ as the nation tries to recover from the pandemic, with cases of the variant doubling every two to three days.
Zahawi stated that Omicron cases could be up to 10x higher than what has been confirmed.
Minister in the Cabinet said that 20million booster jabs had been given and it is now time to ensure all eligible adults get their booster jabs as soon as possible.
He also said that despite the fact that the virus is now endemic, it is being transitioned from pandemic to epidemic, but that there are still big obstacles.
As the House of Commons voted on Tuesday on the PM’s ‘Plan B,’ the pleas for booster shots came at a time when there was a huge Tory revolt.
Tory MP Steve Baker today accused Mr Johnson of ‘creating a miserable dystopia’ by re-imposing coronavirus restrictions.
Baker made a scathing attack on Mr Johnson by claiming that at least 60 Tory MPs would vote against Mr. Johnson if asked to stamp the latest Covid curbs.
The House of Commons will likely approve the crackdown by the PM after Sir Keir Sternmer has confirmed that the Labour Party would vote for the new rules.
Sir Keir indicated this morning that he feels the necessary measures to stop the Omicron-related threat are necessary.
He said Labour will act in the ‘public interest’ and support ‘Plan B’ as he insisted he will resist calls to take ‘political advantage’ of the situation.
Johnson’s ‘Plan B,’ which he activated last week in an attempt to purchase the UK’s time in Omicron’s fight, was activated by Johnson.
Many Tory backbenchers are furious at the new measures. Some have already pledged not to vote for them.
Backbenchers have reacted badly to the decision to require vaccine passports for large venues.
The passes will need to be shown to gain access to indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people from Wednesday.
Other measures in ‘Plan B” include mandatory mask-wearing indoors, and guidance to employees on how they can work remotely.