British Health Minister Sajid Javid said today that he expects to receive a suggestion in the near future on whether the government can extend the vaccination program with the booster dose against coronavirus in order to try to weaken the effects of the new μMicron variant.
The government announced new measures yesterday in an effort to stem the spread of Omicron by tightening regulations for those arriving in Britain and enforcing the use of masks in shops and public transport in the UK.
But ministers also want to promote the booster dose of the vaccine, saying that even if the vaccines prove less effective against the Omicron variant, they will offer greater protection against it and reduce the number of illnesses and deaths.
“The other thing that remains very important, but I think it is right to say that today is more important than ever, is our vaccination program,” Javid told Sky News.
“This is why I asked our vaccine consultants, the so-called Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, to give me their suggestion very soon on the extension of the booster dose program and I believe that I will give it immediately “.
Earlier this month, Britain expanded the categories of those eligible for the booster dose to include people aged 40 and over, and also announced that children aged 16 and 17 would be eligible for a second dose on a recommendation from the Commission.
Britain already has two confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, and Javid said the new measures needed time for experts to gain a better understanding of the Omicron, which is not yet clear if it makes vaccines less effective.
“There are reasons to think that maybe I’m emphasizing maybe … it turns out to make our vaccines less effective, but maybe not, we just do not know enough yet. The point is that vaccines still provide more protection than not being vaccinated. “And that’s why the booster program is so important,” Javid said.
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