OPERATION XMAS
Boris Johnson says all adults will be offered boosters by end of January in bid to save Christmas from Omicron
BORIS Johnson today unveiled his battleplan to offer booster jabs to every British adult by the end of January.
Hundreds more NHS vaccination sites are opening nationally, and the army is set to be drafted in to turbo-charge the fight against Omicron.
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Soldiers will help set up and staff some of the new jab clinics, as they join the effort see off the mutant variant threat.
Health bosses are hiring an extra 10,000 vaccinators as well as urging tens of thousands to join frontline volunteers, including The Sun’s Jabs Army.
The PM said he would be "throwing everything" at the troublesome variant, which has left scientists all around the world concerned.
It comes as he took a step back in the roadmap out of the pandemic, bringing back some restrictions to stop the spread of super strain Omicron.
Speaking to the nation he outlined aims to put rocket boosters under the jabs programme, and increase the number of doses administered every week from 2.5 million to 3.5 million.
Amid his rallying cry to get every adult signed up for their booster shot, Boris said: "The best way to show our grit is to do our bit and step forward when time comes for the booster.
"I've been waiting patiently for my moment to come. It's happening on Thursday I'm pleased to say.
🔵 Read our Omicron variant live blog for the latest news
"So whenever your turn comes, get your booster and ask your friends and your family to do the same.
"It's time for another great British vaccination effort. We've done it before and we're going to do it again. And let's not give this virus a second chance."
He revealed the NHS has already rolled out an impressive 18million boosters across the country, but added "we've got millions more to do to protect the most vulnerable".
The PM also explained that while everyone over-18 who had their second jab three months ago can get their boosters under the new rules, the vulnerable and elderly will be called up first.
Brits must therefore wait to be told they can book in for their extra shot by the NHS, with plans for this to be done for everyone by the end of January.
Sajid Javid echoed the PM's calls to get everyone jabbed, to "give ourselves the best chance of a Christmas with our loved ones".
It comes as...
- New rules have come into force TODAY to stop the new variant Omicron
- Brits face fines if they don't wear masks on public transport or in shops
- Schools WON'T close despite the new strain
- Docs fear the new strain will put certain people at greater risk
- European leaders said they are in a race against time to stop the new variant from spreading
He said boosting the nation's immunity is the best line of defence against the threat of the variant, and the most important way we can return to normality quicker.
The Health Secretary said: "What we're seeing recently has brought back memories of the strain of the last winter.
"But although we can't say with certainty what lies ahead, we have one huge advantage that we didn't have back then: our vaccination programme, which has already done so much to keep this virus at bay."
NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said she was aiming to free up capacity to allow hospitals, GPs and other services to administer more booster jabs.
She praised medics in northern England, hit by Storm Arwen this week, who were jabbing "by candlelight", after losing electricity.
The health chief said GPs and pharmacies would be offered £15 per shot until the end of January, with an additional £5 for Sunday shots and a £30 premium for those delivered to the housebound until the end of next month.
Mr Johnson said England will have more than 1500 community pharmacy sites set up to boost the jab efforts.
He levelled with Brits, saying: "I know the frustration that we all feel with this Omicron variant, the sense of exhaustion that we could be going through all this all over again.
"But today I want to stress this, today that's the wrong thing to feel because today our position is and always will be immeasurably better than it was a year ago.
"What we're doing is taking some proportionate precautionary measures while our scientists crack the Omicron code."
It comes after scientists yesterday green-lighted boosters for all adults in the UK in a bid to ward off the spread of Omicron.
They also slashed the gap needed between a second and third dose from six months to just three.
Boris said today: "The measures taking effect today are proportionate and responsible, and will buy us time in the face of this new variant.
"Vaccines and boosters remain our best line of defence, so it is more important than ever that people come forward when eligible to get boosted."
There have been 13 cases of Omicron identified in England and nine in Scotland now, but ministers expect that number to rise.
Experts say while the new strain might dent the effectiveness of current vaccines it's very unlikely to evade them completely.
Ministers have pledged to remain on the “front foot” in the fight against the Covid super-strain.
But frustrated Brits aged 18 or over who would now be eligible were confused after being unable to book a vaccine appointment yesterday.
The announcement sparked a scramble on the NHS vaccine booking website, with thousands of people waiting in online queues to secure a slot.
The PM has also announced new restrictions to help curb the spread of the mutant variant which came into force at 4am this morning.
New restrictions
They include compulsory mask wearing on public transport and in shops, post offices, and banks - but not pubs and restaurants.
Brits who come into contact with someone who tests positive for Omicron will now have to isolate for 10 days even if they're vaccinated.
And international arrivals now need to take a PCR test on Day 2 and must quarantine until they get a negative result.
Today ministers tried to reassure Brits that "Christmas is on track" but warned a lot will depend on how dangerous the variant turns out to be.
Scientists think the new strain is much more transmissible but little is know about its potential ability to evade vaccines.
In South Africa, where it was identified, doctors have reported mild symptoms in positive cases but they are predominantly younger people.
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Care minister Gillian Keegan said: "The boosters will help, and we're just trying to deal with this unknown at the moment.
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"We very much hope that we we have a Christmas this year, we've had an awful experience last year."
She said the chances of being forced to isolate over the festive period were "pretty low" but the new variant "is unfortunate timing from that perspective".
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