Vaccine programme expanded to combat Omicron variant

The UK is to step up its vaccination programme, with all adults to be offered a Covid-19 booster to deal with the potential impact of the Omicron variant.

In a press briefing yesterday, the UK's vaccine advisory body - the Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation (JCVI) - recommended that all adults aged 18 and over will be offered a booster dose.

Booster doses will be prioritised according to age and risk.

The waiting time between the second dose and booster dose will also be halved from six months to three months.

Severely immunocompromised individuals - who have already been eligible to receive three vaccine doses - will receive a fourth dose, with the first three doses considered their primary course, and the fourth dose their booster.

Regardless of the vaccine used in the first and second doses, the JCVI recommends that mRNA vaccines - such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna - should be used as the preferable booster vaccine as they will generate a strong immune response.

Furthermore, young people between 12 and 15 years of age will be offered a second dose 12 weeks after their first dose.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the Government 's deputy chief medical officer, today led a press urged the public not to panic, but added it was “pretty likely ” that vaccine efficiency would be reduced when encountering the new variant.

However, JCVI advisers offered reassurance that booster doses would provide a strong immune response and help to protect the population ahead of a potential wave caused by Omicron.

Erin Henwood, policy adviser at Greater Birmingham, said: “As highlighted by Professor Van-Tam in yesterday 's press conference, the next few weeks will be concerning and uncertain for many worried about the potential impact of the new Omicron variant.

“It is for precisely this reason that we strongly welcome the JCVI 's quick and considered response to the rapidly changing situation.

“Extending the booster vaccine programme to all adults, and prioritising according to both age and risk, will help to provide much needed protection and reassurance ahead of next month 's festivities.

“As ever, it is crucial that everyone continues to be cautious and take necessary steps to mitigate any further spread of the virus in order to protect both themselves and those around them. ”