The NHS chief has revealed that the Omicron variant will be fought against by four jabs for the most vulnerable people in the country.
This comes as 22 Omicron cases have been confirmed in the UK.
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Amanda Pritchard (Chief Executive, NHS England) today stated that more people can be eligible for boosters.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference this afternoon she said that the NHS would be following new advise from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
She said that “The NHS Covid programme, which is currently in its most complex phase, is working at brake neck pace at this change of eligibility.
“The JCVI also recommends the introduction of a fourth jab to the most vulnerable patients, who are undergoing chemotherapy or have other immune problems.
“We will vaccinate the most vulnerable first and then open it up in other waves.”
Yesterday it was announced that Covid booster jabs would be available to anyone between 18 and 39, but that only the most vulnerable would be eligible.
Current bookings can be made through the national service for those aged 40+ and those with a condition that requires them first to get vaccinated.
Pritchard encouraged those younger in age to wait for the NHS to contact them before they come forward for their jabs.
A fourth jab may also be recommended by your healthcare provider.
She stated that she had written today to the NHS describing the steps required to move the program forward.
Pritchard stated that there would be an increase in capacity across the entire NHS.
“Hundreds upon hundreds of hospitals are already jabbing themselves. We are asking them to also vaccinate eligible patients, staff from social services and other NHS workers.
“Around 30 hospitals have already started offering jabs to the public via the national booking system and many more will soon be available online starting next week.
“Our hard-working GPs, community pharmacists and primary care colleagues have delivered the lion’s share of the vaccinations so far. We’re looking at how we can help them to do even more by cutting other burdens on them to free up clinicians’ time.”
Cash for jabs
Pritchard stated that a cash incentive would help to “reward” hardworking staff members for their participation in the jabs rollout.
She explained that GPs and pharmacies would be offered £15 per jab until the end of January, with an extra £5 for those administered on a Sunday and a £30 premium for those delivered to the housebound until the end of next month.
She stated that this was to ensure that as many jabs can be delivered.
Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, announced today that the army would be deployed along with pop-up locations to save Christmas amid the uncertainty around the Omicron variant.
Although he acknowledged that a new lockdown was possible, he said it was unlikely.
How many doses do I need?
Vulnerables had previously voiced their confusion about third jabs booster jabs or fourth doses.
A third dose of coronavirus vaccine may be required for some patients before the booster.
This applies to those who are immunosuppressed severely – in other words, close to half a billion Brits.
This group has a weak immune system and may have lower levels antibodies following coronavirus jabs.
The third dose is to be used as an additional dose for people who may not have had an adequate immune response to the previous two doses.
This list includes those who have had an organ transplant, are HIV-positive or have recently been diagnosed with cancer. However, it is not the complete shielding list as was created during lockdowns.
In September, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation stated that people in this group at the time of their second or first dose of vaccine should be offered a third dose.
They said: “These people may lack the ability to mount a full vaccination response and may be less protected than other members of the population.”
“This offer is separate to any potential booster programme.”
A person who has had a third dose of the vaccine should take it eight weeks after the last one. This is before they get a booster.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, Chair of Covid-19 Immunisation for the JCVI said that people in this group would have a third dose on top of their initial two doses, in the hope that this would reduce their risk of severe outcomes such as hospitalisations and death.
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