Covid-19: Dr Hilary discusses the impact of omicron on the NHS
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Experts have warned the Government against hastily rolling out another booster shot for everyone. Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said: “We need to target the vulnerable” in the future.
He also warned that there was no point in trying to stop all infections, and that “at some point, society has to open up”.
This comes as experts have dubbed the Omicron variant as the “fastest-spreading virus in the history of the world.”
Kyle Hill, an American science educator said: “Omicron is now the fastest-spreading virus known to humankind. Mask up. Get vaccinated.”
Dr Shashank Joshi, Chair at the International Diabetes Federation South East Asia added: “Omicron is likely the fastest-spreading infectious disease known to man.
“It has an approx reproduction rate of 5. Measles is 15 days. Omicron is <5. Doubling time 1.5 to 3 days”
“In 60 days after 1 case, measles: 50,600. Omicron: 244,000,000”
Sir Andrew also accused European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and former German leader Angela Merkel of spreading Covid-19 misinformation about the risks posed by the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying that it likely “cost lives” in Africa.
He also cautioned against blindly following the route taken by Germany and Israel, who have begun administering a second set of booster doses to all over 60s.
He said: “The future must be focusing on the vulnerable and making boosters or treatments available to them to protect them
“We know that people have strong antibodies for a few months after their third vaccination, but more data are needed to assess whether, when and how often those who are vulnerable will need additional doses.”
He warned that while vaccines can be rapidly adapted to combat the latest variants, it isn’t sustainable or affordable to vaccinate the planet every four to six months.
These warnings come as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to hold a crunch meeting today with senior ministers today to examine the latest Omicron data – and consider if the gamble to hold off extra Covid restrictions is working.
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Despite Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all adding extra measures before Christmas in a bid to stop the NHS from being overwhelmed by cases, Mr Johnson has refused to follow suit.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned “there’s no question Omicron continues to surge through the country”.
He added: “I think we’ve got to recognise that the pressure on our NHS, on our hospitals, is going to be considerable in the course of the next couple of weeks, and maybe more.”
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