This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59571123

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Covid booster jab booking system opens to over-40s in England Covid booster jab booking system opens to over-40s in England
(about 9 hours later)
People aged 40 and over in England can now book their booster jab for three months after their second dose.People aged 40 and over in England can now book their booster jab for three months after their second dose.
The latest expansion means another seven million people can book their top-up jab amid continuing concerns over the new Omicron variant.The latest expansion means another seven million people can book their top-up jab amid continuing concerns over the new Omicron variant.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the vaccine rollout was continuing "at speed" in the run up to Christmas. NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the vaccine rollout was continuing "at speed" in the run-up to Christmas.
The booking system will open to people a month in advance - two months (61 days) after their second dose.The booking system will open to people a month in advance - two months (61 days) after their second dose.
People in high risk groups in England are also now able to book.People in high risk groups in England are also now able to book.
The announcement comes exactly a year after Coventry-based grandmother Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to be given a Covid jab - the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine - outside of a clinical trial. The announcement comes exactly a year after Coventry grandmother Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to be given a Covid jab - the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine - outside of a clinical trial.
Speaking a year on, she said it had felt great to get the vaccine - and things only got better. "I had a wonderful year - thanks to the NHS," the 91-year-old added.
Everybody should have the jab, says Margaret Keenan, the first person in the world to be vaccinated
Since then, the NHS in England has delivered almost 100 million jabs - first and second doses, and boosters.Since then, the NHS in England has delivered almost 100 million jabs - first and second doses, and boosters.
All UK adults are to be offered a Covid booster, and 12 to 15-year-olds will be able to have a second primary dose.All UK adults are to be offered a Covid booster, and 12 to 15-year-olds will be able to have a second primary dose.
The NHS in England, Wales and Scotland have said all adults will be offered a booster by the end of January - although their appointment may be later than that.The NHS in England, Wales and Scotland have said all adults will be offered a booster by the end of January - although their appointment may be later than that.
How will I know it's my turn for a booster?
How vaccines changed the course of the pandemicHow vaccines changed the course of the pandemic
First data points to Omicron re-infection riskFirst data points to Omicron re-infection risk
How many people have had boosters so far?How many people have had boosters so far?
Some people aged 40 and over have already been invited for their top-up, but the latest change means they can now book the appointment themselves.Some people aged 40 and over have already been invited for their top-up, but the latest change means they can now book the appointment themselves.
Booster jabs were originally offered to the over-50s, front-line medical staff and people with health conditions that put them at greater risk. Last month the rollout was widened to include the over-40s.Booster jabs were originally offered to the over-50s, front-line medical staff and people with health conditions that put them at greater risk. Last month the rollout was widened to include the over-40s.
The programme is being vastly expanded due to the threat of the Omicron variant, which early data suggests spreads more easily than the current dominant variant Delta.The programme is being vastly expanded due to the threat of the Omicron variant, which early data suggests spreads more easily than the current dominant variant Delta.
Officially there have been just over 400 Omicron infections. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Government adviser Prof Neil Ferguson said case numbers of the variant were doubling "at least every three days, maybe every two days" and it was likely to overtake the Delta variant to become the dominant form of coronavirus in the UK before Christmas.
It is based on positive tests sent to labs to check for variants, which only happens in a minority of cases. At the moment, it represents only about 2% to 3% of cases, but he said overall case numbers would accelerate within a week or two due to its rapid growth.
Because of a quirk in the way Omicron shows on PCR tests it is possible to identify suspected cases too. Prof Ferguson said that with no action, the Omicron wave was likely to peak in January but measures taken in the UK would depend on how severe an infection it turned out to be.
Using this data, researchers at the University of East Anglia believe there could have been five to six times as many Omicron cases as the official total shows. "At the moment, we don't really have a good handle on the severity of this virus, there's a little hint in the UK data that infections are a little bit more likely to be asymptomatic, but we really need to firm up that evidence," he said.
This data is what is behind suggestions the number of cases is doubling every three days or so and the conclusion that it is more transmissible than Delta. He added that there was a rationale to try to slow down Omicron's spread by telling people to work from home to allow more time to administer booster jabs - but warned another lockdown might be needed.
What is not clear is why. To what extent is it down to Omicron's ability to get past immunity, greater infectiousness or because it has a shorter incubation period? The talk behind the scenes now is about what needs to be done to slow the spread of Omicron.
The answer to that could have a big bearing on how quickly and how far infection levels will climb. This is not about lockdown, rather buying time for more boosters to be given.
Another unknown is what that will mean for serious illness. You would expect reinfections or infections post-vaccination to be milder. So measures such as issuing a work from home directive are certainly being considered.
If that is the case, the proportion of cases ending up in hospital will drop. That's because of how fast cases of the new variant are growing.
But even if it halves, if infection rates more than double, pressure on the NHS will still increase. Ignore the official total of confirmed Omicron infections - just over 400 - as this is the tip of the iceberg. Less than a fifth of infections are checked for variants.
The threat of hospitals being overwhelmed is now back on the table. From testing, data experts believe around 2% of positive cases - approaching 1,000 a day - could be Omicron. And that's just the people who come forward for testing.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: "There is a lot we do not know about the Omicron variant but experts believe that even if existing vaccines are less effective they will give protection." What is clear is the numbers are rising rapidly - doubling every two or three days, according to government adviser Prof Neil Ferguson.
There are suggestions the variant is causing milder illness - and that certainly makes sense as reinfections or infections post-vaccination are likely to not be as serious.
But even if that is the case a rapid rise in infections still has the potential to cause more hospitalisations than we are seeing now.
And the uncertainty about that is why it would not be a surprise if the government took action.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: "There is a lot we do not know about the Omicron variant but experts believe that even if existing vaccines are less effective, they will give protection."
Dr Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency, said boosters were critical to "bolster our defences against this new variant" and urged people to book their first, second or booster jab "without delay".Dr Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency, said boosters were critical to "bolster our defences against this new variant" and urged people to book their first, second or booster jab "without delay".
Almost 21 million people in the UK have now had their booster, official figures show. Some 88.9% of people aged over 12 in the UK have had their first dose and 81% have had their second.Almost 21 million people in the UK have now had their booster, official figures show. Some 88.9% of people aged over 12 in the UK have had their first dose and 81% have had their second.
Meanwhile, the NHS is appealing for tens of thousands more vaccinators and volunteers to support the ramped up programme.Meanwhile, the NHS is appealing for tens of thousands more vaccinators and volunteers to support the ramped up programme.
Another 1,300 vaccination sites have opened in England since February, bringing the total number of sites to almost 3,000.Another 1,300 vaccination sites have opened in England since February, bringing the total number of sites to almost 3,000.
In summer, modelling suggested more than 60,000 deaths had so far been prevented in England as a result of the Covid vaccine programme.In summer, modelling suggested more than 60,000 deaths had so far been prevented in England as a result of the Covid vaccine programme.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: "We are halving the gap that people have to wait to get their booster to three months - prioritising those most at risk of serious illness and strengthening our collective defences in light of the Omicron variant, as this virus goes on the advance this winter."Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: "We are halving the gap that people have to wait to get their booster to three months - prioritising those most at risk of serious illness and strengthening our collective defences in light of the Omicron variant, as this virus goes on the advance this winter."
'HE LIVED FOR HIS MUSIC': The extraordinary story of Freddie Mercury and his battle with AIDs'HE LIVED FOR HIS MUSIC': The extraordinary story of Freddie Mercury and his battle with AIDs
WHAT'S SUPERMAN LIKE AS A DAD? Even as a parent, a superhero is never off dutyWHAT'S SUPERMAN LIKE AS A DAD? Even as a parent, a superhero is never off duty