Booster Covid jabs to be offered to ALL Brit adults in just weeks as rollout is ‘put on steroids’ amid Omicron spread
BOOSTER Covid jabs are to be offered to ALL Brit adults in just weeks, a Government source has revealed.
It comes amid the spread of the latest super strain Omicron with three cases already identified in the UK.
Today the vaccines watchdog is set to approve the booster shot for over-18s.
A source from Whitehall told "We want to put the booster programme on steroids."
More than 75 “probable” cases of the Omricon variant have been flagged with more than 150 possible others, according to Government sources.
The UK has nine confirmed cases at the moment - six in Scotland, and three in England.
One patient, in Essex, is said to be not seriously ill and isolating with their family.
Ministers and scientists are scrambling to work out how contagious and dangerous Omicron is.
🔵 Read our Omicron variant live blog for the latest news & updates
However, one doctor in South Africa has claimed that the variant does not cause loss of taste or smell but has "unusual" and "mild" symptoms - including intense fatigue and high heart rate.
Meanwhile, the PM announced at the weekend that new restrictions would be imposed in a bid to keep the lid on the new mutant variant.
Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told BBC Breakfast this morning there were two strategies to deal with the variant.
"Either we raise the immunity in the population or we find a matched vaccine," he said.
"Inevitably everybody will be offered a booster but what we want to do is make sure that it's done in a sensible order so that those that are most vulnerable for this infection can get boosted and their natural immunity levels can go up."
He said the JCVI was looking at reducing the interval between second and booster doses and increasing the age range of who is eligible.
The expert warned if Omicron has vaccine escape and "turns out to have a transmission advantage, then it would be sensible to have a new vaccine".
Experts were looking for a "Goldilocks period" for the right time for people to get their Covid boosters, Professor Jeremy Brown, member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said.
But he added: "The logic for maybe changing the gap... this variant the Omicron variant is now present in the world, it hasn't reached the UK in high numbers, and if possible it will be good to boost a lot of people's antibody levels to high levels to give them the maximum chance of not getting infected with this new variant.
"So that might be a reason for reducing the gap. Between the second dose and the booster dose.
"And so basically vaccinate people ahead of a possible Omicron wave which will be coming at some point."
Sajid Javid revealed that mandatory face masks in shops and public transport will return from Tuesday.
When asked on Sky News how mandatory mask-wearing will be enforced, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: "I do think people will take this more seriously".
Masks have remained compulsory on London's Tube system, but Transport for London figures show only 108 people out of the millions who travel on the Tube have been removed for not wearing face coverings.
But Mr Javid insisted: "Over the last few days, and of course this has been very fast-moving, people will have been able to understand the concerns over this new variant.
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"They will be concerned not just for themselves but for their friends and family and want to know their Government is taking proportionate action.
"So I think that will encourage people anyway to listen and think about some of the new measures and take them seriously."
He added: "I hope this is something we can remove within weeks."
MPs will vote on the new restrictions within 28 days after the legislation is placed before the Commons tomorrow.
The Sun today issues a fresh call for Jabs Army volunteers after the announcement that the booster shot could be offered sooner.
We need 25,000 NHS volunteer responders to help out at hundreds of vaccination centres UK-wide.
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And with scientists urging anyone eligible for a booster to get one by December 11 and under 18s being considered for second vaccinations, our Jabs Army needs you.
Volunteers are needed all over England but there are 20 areas that are desperate for support now.