UK embarks on a race against time against the omicron variant

The British Government is focused from today on a race against time to give the booster dose against COVID-19 to all adults before 2022 against the advance of the omicron variant, present in 20% of infections in that country and in more than 44% of London cases.

The Executive intends to provide that extra injection to all those over 18 years of age – as long as three months have passed since the second dose – before the end of this month. An ambitious challenge with which he hopes to curb the looming “tide” of infections.

During a visit to a vaccination center in the capital, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that “sadly, omicron is causing hospitalizations and at least one patient has died.”

The “Tory” leader has rejected the current perception that it produces less serious effects than other variants: “The idea that it is a milder version of the virus is something that we must park and recognize how quickly it accelerates (its spread) among the population. The best we can do is get the booster dose, ”he said.

The “extremely high demand” for booster vaccines has caused technical problems on the website of the NHS -public health service-, where appointments to get the vaccine are reserved.

But to date, the government’s urgent appeal appears to be working, judging by the long lines of people patiently awaiting their injection today.

“I was yesterday all night trying to book an appointment (…) and today they gave me for January 5, (but) as today it coincided that I had a day off, I came to spend the morning at St Thomas Hospital”, he explained Spanish Angela García told EFE while she was waiting to receive her booster dose at one of the many centers where the vaccine is administered without an appointment.

In this titanic operation, 42 military teams will be deployed to enable additional centers and mobile units to speed up the operation.

Johnson’s management continues to be the target of criticism

Johnson wades through the dizzying spread of the omicron as criticism of his handling of the crisis continues. There is still talk of the Christmas parties allegedly staged by members of his Cabinet when the rest of the citizenry abided by rigid social norms last year.

In defense of the “premier”, the head of Health, Sajid Javid, stressed today to the BBC that the “Tory” leader is “totally and completely focused on the challenges of the nation.”

The Government has introduced restrictions contemplated in its contingency plan or plan B, such as teleworking whenever possible, the generalization of the use of masks in closed public places, and the obligation to show covid certificates to be able to enter nightclubs or attend shows.

Those rules, which Javid confirmed today in a statement before the House of Commons (down), must be approved by the deputies in a vote to be held tomorrow.

In his speech, the minister clarified that from Wednesday two vaccines and a booster dose will be needed to access large premises or an antigen test with a negative result as part of the changes introduced in the covid passports.

In addition, when making international trips, these certificates will also include the status of minors between 12 and 15 years old.

Javid considered that these are “proportionate and balanced steps” that are intended to “buy time while giving the booster doses.”

“So far the largest number of vaccines we have given in a single day in the UK has exceeded 840,000. Now we will not only have to match this figure, but it will have to be exceeded, “he said.

In a message on Twitter, the Government’s medical adviser, Chris Whitty, warned today that the country faces “a growing challenge” again after 54,661 new infections were recorded in the last 24 hours.

The British Health Security Agency reported another 1,576 omicron cases across the country, bringing the total to date to 4,713.