Boris Johnson announced that booster jabs will be offered to everyone over 18 years of age in England
The Prime Minister of United Kingdom (U.K.) – Boris Johnson on Sunday evening, declared “Omicron Emergency”, announcing that booster jabs will be offered to everyone over 18 years of age in England.
The announcement was made after the U.K.’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) alert level was raised to 4, due to the spread of the new Omicron variant. Level 4 means a high or rising level of transmission.
Addressing the nation on Television, Johnson said, “No one should be in any doubt, there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming.”
He further said, “I’m afraid we’re now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant Omicron. 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.”
The booster jab is available for everyone above 18 years from this week, provided it has been 3 months since they took their 2nd dose. People aged 30 years can already book an appointment in advance using the online service from 2 months after their second dose. The Government has also arranged for some walk-in appointments for over-18s, depending on location.
Taking it to twitter, Johnson tweeted,
We are a great country. We have the vaccines to protect our people.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 12, 2021
So let’s do it. Let’s Get Boosted Now.
Get Boosted Now for yourself, for your friends and your family.
Get Boosted Now to protect our NHS, our freedoms and our way of life.https://t.co/I3YTZWggJb pic.twitter.com/JbWPGFrvma
Johnson said in order to speed-up booster vaccination target, certain other medical appointments would need to be postponed to the New Year. He also added that 42 teams from the military would be deployed across every region. Extra vaccine sites and mobile units would be set up across England. Opening hours of clinics would be extended and thousands more volunteer vaccinators would be trained. The U.K. would also give extra support to speed up vaccinations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
More than half a million booster jabs and third doses were given in the U.K. on Saturday. According to a study by U.K. Health Security Agency, COVID-19 booster jab gives 70-75% protection from mild disease of Omicron variant.
Meanwhile, U.K. has moved to Plan B measures which includes COVID-19 Passports for some crowded events and asking people to work from home. Fully vaccinated contacts of people who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to take daily lateral flow tests for 7 days. Those who haven’t taken any dose and test positive, would have to self-isolate for 10 days.
