By Boris Johnson calls for ‘another great British vaccination effort’ amid Omicron surge
Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined plans for all adults to be offered the booster jab by the end of January in a press conference today (30 November).
On the day that England returned to mandatory face coverings in shops and on public transport, the Prime Minister said: “it’s time for another great British vaccination effort.”
It was also announced that the total number of Omicron variant cases in England has risen to 13, and 22 in the UK.
Jabs will be rolled out at 1,500 community pharmacy sites and extra hospital hubs sites across the country, while mobile vaccination hubs will be “popping up like Christmas trees.”
“It’s time for another Great British vaccination effort, we’ve done it before and we are going to do it again, let’s not give this virus a second chance,” Mr Johnson added.
The vaccine roll-out will be done in descending age order, with those most vulnerable being offered it first.
NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said that the expansion of the jab availability was “the biggest expansion” of the programme to date as an addition seven million under 40s can now get the booster.
She urged people to not call the NHS asking when they will get the extra jab, saying: “We will let you know when it’s your turn.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that this plan was to put the booster programme “on steroids”.
“If we want to give ourselves the best chance of Christmas with our loved ones, we should step up and get jabbed,” he added.
During this expansion, it has also been announced that there are plans to eliminate the 15-minute waiting period after receiving a jab.
There will also be over 3,000 sites around the country able to give the vaccine, more than double the number open in February.
(Feature image: Pippa Fowles / No 10 Downing Street)
