More than 90,000 volunteers are working at nearly 3,000 immunization facilities across the UK.
The UK has promised to open hundreds of more vaccination sites in the coming days, including at football stadiums and racecourses, as it tries to massively ramp up supply of booster shots. amid an increase in omicron cases.
The move comes after Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Parliament the new strain of coronavirus now accounts for 20% of confirmed Covid-19 infections in the UK, while the daily estimate of infections is around 200,000. .
With two doses of the vaccine deemed insufficient to protect against omicrons, the government has announced an accelerated ramp-up to get the UK through the latest pandemic crisis.
Boris Johnson said the National Health Service must beat its daily immunization record – 844,000 in March – “day in and day out” to hit the government’s goal of getting all adults vaccinated On the occasion of the new year.
“To achieve something on this scale, we need your help,” the Prime Minister said in a statement late Monday. “So today I am issuing a call for volunteers to join our national mission to receive the spearheads in weapons.”
However, there are growing warnings from scientists that new pandemic restrictions were announced last week, including mandatory face coverings in indoor public spaces and proof of tests. negative to enter some locations, it will not be possible to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed – even with increased deployment.
On Monday, Johnson repeatedly refused to rule out imposing more pre-Christmas rules to try to contain omicrons. “We take whatever steps are necessary to protect public health,” he told the broadcasters, confirming the first UK death linked to the variant.
Tory Anger
The tougher curbs will put him on a collision course with members of his ruling Conservative Party, many of whom have threatened to revolt when the measures announced last week were announced. put up for a vote in Parliament on Tuesday.
According to Spectator magazine, 78 Tory MPs said they would vote against the government over the use of so-called vaccine passports on Monday night – just shy of Johnson’s working majority of around 80 people in the Commons.
However, the new measures will almost certainly pass, as the opposition Labor Party has said it will vote on them. The question is whether more is needed, especially if the reinforcement program falls short of its goals.
More than 90,000 volunteers are working at nearly 3,000 immunization facilities across the UK. This will be extended to hundreds of other websites, mobile devices and pop-ups over the next week, including sports stadiums and shopping malls, Johnson’s office said.
“I believe that if we don’t prioritize strengthening now, the health consequences will be far more severe in the months to come,” Javid said.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)
