Rishi Sunak said that booster Covid-19 vaccines will prevent another lockdown, defying health experts who warned that the NHS could be overwhelmed this winter.
The Chancellor stated that the jabs would remain the government’s first line of defense’ in controlling the virus, and stopping the NHS becoming overwhelmed by it this winter.
He said that while the winter was going to be challenging, he would not allow another lockdown. This echos the sentiments of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said that the measure was ‘not on any cards’.
They ignored warnings from health officials who warned that Covid infections and high numbers of patients with flue could put the NHS under a lot of pressure.
Mr Sunak’s comments come as Britain’s daily Covid hospitalisations breached 1,000 for the first time in six weeks on Friday.
In a sign of the pressure ministers are expecting the NHS will come under this winter’s, Dr Emily Lawson, England’s vaccine chief, has been drafted back to the NHS to oversee the Covid booster jab program.
Rishi Sunak, who defied experts who warned that the NHS could be overwhelmed this winter, has stated that booster Covid-19 vaccines will prevent another lockdown.
Dr Emily Lawson, England’s vaccine chief, has been drafted back to the NHS to oversee the Covid booster jab rollout
Only 4million of England’s 8.7m eligible patients for a booster are now eligible, including only a third of care home residents.
Mr Sunak argued that Britain is now in a new phase in controlling the virus thanks to the booster jabs and current vaccine program.
According to him, The Times has learned that the vaccine made it possible for them to be in a different place than they were one year ago.
“There is an immense wave of protection and that changes everything. That’s our first line defence.
Sunak acknowledged that winter might be “challenging”, but it would not mean another lockdown.
He stated that there are many options available and that they do not require economic restrictions or lockdowns.
It comes as daily Covid hospitalisations surpass 1,000, while infections rose by 49,298, and deaths jumped by a quarter, to 180.
Boris Johnson stated that a lockdown was not planned for Friday’s visit to West London’s vaccine clinic. He also stated that the current numbers were fully in line’ with expectations.
He admitted that he worked from home and that some measures were being ‘kept in constant review’, but ruled out another lockdown. The Prime Minister said that he saw nothing to indicate that such a lockdown was possible.
SAGE scientists also stated that it was highly unlikely that the NHS would be overwhelmed this Winter, even if there were no restrictions in advice. This justifies No10’s bold decision not to immediately resort to ‘Plan B.
However, the scientific advisors advised the government that it must ensure that ‘Plan B’ restrictions to combat coronavirus can be rapidly’ deployed if necessary.
Tory MPs feared Boris Johnson would succumb to pressure while he was visiting a Little Venice Sports Centre in London’s Covid vaccination center. This would have the effect of triggering contingency plans and putting the nation back on a’slippery slope’. They urged Johnson not to be ‘bullied into’ imposing new rules by health chiefs.
SAGE stated in documents that were submitted to ministers last week, but not published until Friday, that there was evidence that the third wave of hospitalisations had reached its peak.
But the panel of top scientists — which include Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty — warned against complacency, adding there was still a threat if people suddenly drop all precautions, vaccines suddenly wane in younger groups or a new variant becomes dominant.
They advised the Government to prepare contingencies so that face masks, work from home, and vaccine passports can quickly be introduced in the event of an epidemic that deviates dramatically from the ‘optimistic” modelling. If implemented quickly, the group stated that the measures could make an ‘important difference’.
The findings will give the Government confidence that it has made the right decision by not reverting to its winter ‘Plan B’ despite rising infection rates and pressure from NHS bosses, parts of the media and many scientists.
Tory MPs feared Boris Johnson would give in to pressure and send the nation back to lockdown again by activating the contingency plan. They urged Boris Johnson not to be ‘bullied into’ imposing new rules by health chiefs.
Official data published today revealed Covid infections have reached their highest level since mid-January with nearly one in 50 infected with the virus last week — but cases are mostly concentrated in children.
SAGE’s scenarios do not look at The NHS is facing a heavy burden from flu. Experts predict that there will be a significant increase in influenza admissions due to the lack of natural immunity from lockdown. The model doesn’t take into account efforts to A record-breaking waiting list has been created by pandemic-disrupted healthcare, which doctors warn leaves them less room to manage an increase in hospitalisations.
SAGE’s modeling predicted that the combination vaccine-acquired immunity with natural protection would be sufficient to keep hospital rates down below the levels seen in the second wave. Even in the most pessimistic scenarios of the group, they estimated that daily Covid hospital visits would not rise above 1,500. They would be below 1,000 in winter, according to more optimistic models. The following charts were created by Warwick University. They show how quickly people can return to pre-pandemic social contact. It was based upon booster doses that conferred’sustained immunity’.
Other SAGE modelling also took into consideration’repeated’ waning from booster dosing and projected that hospitalizations could exceed levels seen in January’s second wave.
Only 4.5million (green) of the 9.3million eligible English citizens have received the crucial third dose. Ministers have urged people to come forward to get their inoculations.
As the SAGE files were being released, the Prime Minister stated that he was confident in his decision to stick with Plan A.
He said, “Our autumn and winter plans always predicted that cases would increase around now and we’re definitely seeing that in numbers.”
He stated that although we are experiencing ‘high levels’ of infection, they are still within the expected range. “But it’s important that people follow the guidelines on general behaviour, such as being cautious, wearing masks in confined spaces, and meeting people you don’t normally meet.
Wear a mask, wash your hands, ventilate, all that stuff, but also get your booster shot. That’s the key message we want to convey.
“That’s why it’s being timed for now because there is some evidence that vaccines start to wane and you get really good protection with the booster. A new study claims that 95% of the vaccines provide protection.
“So we are seeing numbers rise, yesterday I think 250,000 across the nation.
“We want them to be accelerated even further. Thank you to everyone for coming forward, but we need to see more.
Johnson watched Nitza Sarner (88) receive her booster and was asked if he would set an example by wearing his mask in Parliament.
He stated to reporters that he believed there were many steps to be taken to continue following the guidance.
‘So commonsensical things – washing your hands, wearing a mask in confined spaces where you don’t normally meet other people …where you are meeting people that you don’t normally meet I should say.
“That’s sensible. The main message for today is to all over 50s to get your booster jab.
“When you get a call, get the jab.”
Boris Johnson was asked if he was disregarding advice about working from home and answered: “We keep all measures under constant revision.
‘We do what we can to protect public health, but the numbers that are currently being seen are completely in line with the expectations we had in the autumn and winter plans.
“What we want is for people to come forward and get their jabs. We also want young people to get their jabs.
He stated that booking systems will open from tomorrow and that schools will also be vaccinated with the new vaccine.
The boosters are amazing. Although the protection levels are very high, it is very important to get one. The double vaccination provides protection against serious illness, death, and can be used to prevent you from contracting the disease. However, it does not protect you from passing it on.
“So now is the right time to get your booster.”
It is Dr Emily Lawson, who was the head for England’s coronavirus vaccine delivery program, that has been drafted back in.
Dr Lawson was responsible for the initial success of the Covid-19 jabs’ rollout, but was then seconded by No 10’s delivery team – a team charged with ensuring the Government delivers its policies – in May.
Dr. Lawson is now back in the health service, preparing for winter.
Although the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine in the country was widely publicized, the rate of uptake of booster vaccines is not as rapid.
Professor Jeremy Brown, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, stated that the number and complexity of vaccination programs currently in place made it more difficult to deliver vaccines.
Channel 4 News reported that he said: “Well, there are several vaccination programmes currently in place. There is the booster program, the third dose for immunosuppressed people, and the vaccination programme for children.
“So there are sorting of competing vaccination programs occurring simultaneously, which makes it more difficult for the delivery people.
He said that he believed the booster program had ‘progressed quite well’.
Dr. Lawson was moved from No 10 to the NHS because of slowing progress as the colder months approach.
According to the latest NHS data, less than half of eligible residents living in older age care homes in England have had a coronavirus booster jab.
The average daily hospital admissions of Covid-19 patients in England have risen to their highest level in nearly eight months.
In the UK, an estimated 5.3 million booster doses have been given to Covid-19 vaccine.
It is possible that one in nine UK vaccine recipients has received a booster.
Dr Lawson stated that Friday’s phase 2 of the vaccination programme was crucial. He said that vaccines are saving lives. Therefore, all efforts must be directed at ensuring that everyone is able to receive the booster campaign.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive at NHS England, described winter as a crucial phase in the fight against the pandemic.
NHS England reported that Dr Lawson is expected back in Downing Street next year.
In the hope that the school break will stop the increase in cases, the Prime Minister is believed to have postponed a decision on whether to deploy Plan B to the second half of the year.
The hospitality industry needs to be aware of the importance of the period between Halloween & New Year’s Eve. Bookings usually soar in this time before a lull during January and February.
There are growing concerns within the sector that coronavirus restrictions could possibly be reimposed before year’s end, which could lead to a loss of consumer confidence.
Phil Urban, chief executive of Mitchells & Butler, which owns pubs and restaurants including the All Bar One chain, told The Guardian: “People are very anxious and if they move to Plan B, it puts Christmas at danger.
“The industry is not dead, and just when we get our momentum back, we’d be swept under the carpet.”
UK Hospitality’s chief executive Kate Nicholls echoed the sentiment, warning that many firms are’still fragile.
She stated that she lost Christmas in its entirety last December, and it was crucial for survival, getting through the dark months of January, February, and March when people don’t come out as often.
“Most businesses are still fragile. Any knock at this time could have an impact upon viability. People will just walk to the wall.
Some Tory MPs are opposed to any return of restrictions.
MailOnline was told by one MP that triggering “Plan B” could lead to a country going down a slippery slope towards another lockdown.
They said: ‘I am very concerned about the idea of moving to Plan B because you could see that slipping away into another lockdown.
“Although there are many cases, the death rate seems to be quite low. It seems that the booster rollout will continue to keep things at bay,
Marcus Fysh, Tory MP and Tory MP for the Tory Party, said that the Government should not be ‘bullied into imposing new curbs’.
He stated that the position on this was to be bullied on other things, and that he didn’t believe we should be doing this at this time.
Gillian Keegan, the Care Minister, said this morning that the Government will continue to focus on the vaccine rollout as its main defense against the disease after being asked why ‘Plan B” has not been activated.
She told Sky News: ‘We laid out Plan A and Plan B and we have just started, as I say, five weeks ago Plan A.
“The most important thing is that you do all the things I have just mentioned: Get the vaccine rolled out, get the boosters rolled up.
“And ofcourse we have Plan B here. It exists for a reason. We are focusing on the present moment.
“We know the vaccine is the best we do, so we are really focusing on making it happen.”
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed that about one in 55 English private households had Covid-19 in week to October 16th, up from one of 60 in the previous week.
Infection rates in Wales remained the same, but they have declined in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Separate figures revealed that another 180 people died in the UK within 28 days of being tested positive for Covid-19. This brings the official UK total to 133,326.