A fourth round of UK adult coronavirus shots has come a step closer after the government rushed through a deal for more than 100 million additional doses that can be tailored to variations.
Sajid Javid, the medical secretary, has agreed to buy enough additional doses to repeat the entire vaccination program so far as he has promised “future proof” for NHS vaccinations.
The deal, potentially worth more than £2bn, was sped up over concerns that the Omicron variant could evade current vaccines, and includes provisions allowing access to those approved modified to target new strains.
Ministers are leaning on an increased program of ‘steroid use’ to protect the nation against Omicron this winter and have pledged to give all UK adults a third shot by the end of next month. when scientists say the third dose could be sped up.
The NHS has not issued detailed instructions on how the scheme will be implemented. GPs said yesterday they could not ramp up the supply of additional injections without cutting other care services.
A letter scheduled to be sent to immunization centers with instructions for a new booster shot has been delayed as the government tries to finalize an agreement to allow family doctors to drop some paperwork so they don’t have to reduce recurring appointments.
Yesterday another 10 cases of the Omicron variant were confirmed across the UK bringing the total to 32 cases last night Javid said they would rise further.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical expert for Covid, said: “There is no indication that the vaccine will not work. “Even with reduced effectiveness, it is still better to get the vaccine because it will save your life.” She said that more information on the transmissibility of the variant and whether it causes more severe illness was expected “within days, not necessarily weeks”.
The organization casts doubt on the adoption of booster programs in rich countries, stressing that vaccination would be more effective in developing countries. Soumya Swaminathan, its lead scientist, says there is “not much evidence” that all adults will benefit from a third dose.
Allegations that wealthy nations are hoarding vaccines are likely to intensify after Britain announced last night that it had purchased 114 million more doses from Pfizer and Moderna.
These vaccines will be made available late next year or in 2023 and increase the likelihood of a booster shot next winter. While it is not yet clear that the annual boosters will be needed, ministers want maximum flexibility and Javid said he will ensure that Britain has “the vaccine the country needs to prevent this type of virus.” this virus”.
The agreement includes provision for deliveries to include modified vaccines targeted against the Omicron variant or future strains. Javid said: “These new deals will future-proof the British immunization drive – having delivered more than 115 million first, second and booster shots to date across the UK. UK – and will make sure we can protect even more people in the years to come. ”
Ministers say the prophylactic vaccines will be sent to other countries that need them, and Britain will send more than 30 million doses abroad by the end of the year and 100 million by the middle of next year. As of now, only 11.5 million units have been delivered. Analysis by The Times shows that a quarter of the dose the West has pledged to give poorer countries has arrived.
Gordon Brown, the former prime minister, accused Europe and the United States this week of sitting in stockpiles of 500 million unused doses of the drug.
Yesterday, scientists questioned claims by Israeli media that early data showed the vaccine was almost as good at protecting against the Omicron variant. The new findings show that Pfizer jab is 90% effective at preventing symptomatic infections from Omicron compared to 95% for Delta, according to a Channel 12 report. However, it is not clear where the data came from or how it is calculated because there are not enough cases in Israel to give an effective estimate and not enough people in South Africa, where the variant was first detected, got boost jab.
Simon Clarke, from the University of Reading, said he found the report “confusing”. “Finding that people boosted with the Pfizer vaccine are well protected is troubling at this stage,” he said. To make such an observation, you need a large number of promoters who have been exposed to Omicron. There are hardly any infections in Israel, so there doesn’t appear to be anything resembling sufficient exposure to achieve these findings. Similarly, there is no strengthening program in South Africa”.
