Tidal Wave of Omicron Infections Hits the UK
As COVID-19 continues to evolve, cases of the Omicron and Delta coronavirus variants have consequently surged. The rise in cases has further highlighted the importance of booster shots. Pfizer and BioNTech conducted preliminary lab studies in which they found that a third dose of either vaccine correlated with an improvement in protection against the emerging variants.
The importance of booster shots has become increasingly evident in Britain, as they are currently facing a “tidal wave” of Omicron infections. In early December, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed Britain’s first death of an individual with the Omicron variant. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has reported that “while Omicron represents over 20% of cases in England, we’ve already seen it rise to over 44% in London and we expect it to become the dominant Covid-19 variant.” The variant is currently spreading at a rapid pace with infections doubling nearly every two to three days.
The United Kingdom’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has cited that booster vaccine shots would provide for an estimated seventy to seventy-five percent protection against the Omicron variant. The preliminary data suggests that boosters may restore protection against symptomatic infection, and Johnson is urging people to get the third shot.
The rapid infection rate, however, has placed a high demand on the COVID-19 vaccine booking service. While there is high receptiveness to the vaccine, the thousands of people trying to book their booster shots in England have overwhelmed the booking system, leading to the crash of the National Health Service website. There is a race between vaccine administration and COVID infection, but the UK is continuing to accelerate the rollout of booster shots to respond to the wave of cases.
In addition to the expansion of booster jabs, England has introduced Plan B measures to slow the curve of Omicron infection. People are being advised to work from home, mandatory mask mandates have been introduced in indoor public spaces, and NHS COVID passes are now required for entry into nightclubs and large indoor venues.
As of now, the British government’s goal is to offer all adults a booster job by the new year. This marks an ambitious goal as it would require one million people to be vaccinated per day, which is nearly double the current vaccination rate of 530,000 people per day. Furthermore, the British government has plans to deploy forty-two military medical teams to assist in the vaccination process. General Practitioners in the National Health Service are also starting to cancel nonessential appointments in an effort to reach the goal by 2022.
The rapid infection rate of the Omicron variant has highlighted the need to tighten up restrictions against COVID-19 and the simultaneous need to accelerate the vaccine rollout. Johnson has called for “tens of thousands of people to help out - everyone from trained vaccinators to stewards. Many thousands have already given their time”, Johnson said, “but we need you to come forward again, to work alongside our brilliant GPs, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, to deliver jabs and save lives.”
Going forward, in order to see the minimization of detrimental effects associated with the coronavirus pandemic, it is necessary to see the British government and citizenry alike work together to reach the common good of Britain. COVID-19 and the corresponding variants are increasing rapidly, but the spread can be contained if proper guidelines are established and adhered to and if a majority of the population is given the booster shot.
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