COVID: Wait for booster shots halved to combat the Omicron variant

The Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, on the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) announced that severely immunocompromised citizens are eligible for vaccination three months following their initial three-shot course.

Gap halved for jabs

On the advice of JCVI it has been discussed that the delay in getting the new shots has been reduced from six months to three months, in order to take swift action to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

Javid said:

Our experience of fighting this virus has shown us that it’s best to act decisively and swiftly when we see a potential threat, which is why we’re building our defences and putting these measures in place without delay.

Children aged 12 to 15 years are finally eligible to get their second COVID jab. The NHS need to decide the waiting time for adults and children alike.

Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, added:

We need everyone on the pitch to up their game and play their part to come forward for boosters. It has never been more vital than at this point.

Official figures state that the NHS has successfully administered 350,000 booster vaccines, which is about 2.4 million a week.

Omicron vs Delta

As of today, the death toll in the UK is 167,927 people.

The new restrictions to combat the Omicron variant included mandatory PCR tests and masks in public transport and the resistance in doing so would incur a fine of £200, up to 32 times.

Even though the Health Secretary has not taken its enemy—the Omicron variant—for granted, Javid stated that:

If it emerges that this variant is no more dangerous than the Delta variant, then we won’t keep measures in place for a day longer than is necessary.

These measures will be reviewed after three weeks and scrapped if necessary.