Boris Johnson: UK faces 'tidal wave' of omicron cases
Johnson said in a televised statement that everyone age 18 and older will be offered a third shot of vaccine by the end of this month. The previous target was the end of January.
- World
- AP
- Published Date: 11:12 | 12 December 2021
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday that Britain faces a "tidal wave" of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant, and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it.
Johnson said in a televised statement that everyone age 18 and older will be offered a third shot of vaccine by the end of this month. The previous target was the end of January.
He said cases of the highly transmissible variant are doubling every two to three days and "there is a tidal wave of omicron coming."
To combat it, he announced a "national mission" to deliver booster vaccines at with pop-up vaccination centers and 7-day-a-week clinics.
U.K. scientists believe existing vaccines appear less effective in preventing symptomatic infections in people exposed to omicron, though preliminary data show that effectiveness appears to rise to between 70% and 75% after a third vaccine dose.