Booster jabs ‘to be offered to under-40s’ in bid to fight off winter Covid wave as cases surge across Europe
BOOSTER jabs will reportedly be offered to under 40s in a bid to fight off a winter Covid wave as cases surge across Europe.
Boris Johnson is not preparing to impose “Plan B” measures – but Downing Street has issued a fresh appeal for Brits to get a booster.
The government is set to extend booster vaccines to all adults, including the under 40s, to hold off a devastating winter wave, according to the i.
Despite the soaring Covid cases in Europe, Downing Street said there was “nothing in the data that means we need to change our approach” and introduce a “Plan B” with mandatory face masks and a work from home mandate.
A Whitehall source told the i the Government would follow the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on whether to extend booster jabs to all adults.
But officials have reportedly been impressed by data showing how effective booster jabs have been in reducing hospital admissions among older people.
A source said: “There is no need for Plan B based on the current situation but there is no room for complacency.
“We need to keep getting jabs in arms and people to be cautious as they go about their business.”
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Covid infections have fallen in most parts of the UK, although infections remain high, according to the latest figures.
The latest assessment from the government’s scientific advisory committee, Sage, said: “In the absence of a new variant of concern, it would currently take both a rapid increase in transmission rates and repeated waning of protection from vaccination to lead to hospital admission levels close to those seen in January 2021.”
But a new study has revealed Europe could face “300,000 deaths and one million people in hospital” as Covid wreaks havoc across the continent this winter.
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine study warned that 280,000 people alone could end up in hospital in Germany as Europe faces down the barrel of a new wave of Covid lockdowns.
The authors also warned death and hospitalisation rates could rapidly rise in Europe if Covid restrictions aren’t tightened further.
On Friday, Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced his country would go into a lockdown from Monday as cases soar and bodies pile up in hospital corridors.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, there have been 21.2million Covid cases in the EU and more than 275,000 deaths since the pandemic began in 2019.
In the last 14 days, the region registered 2.6million cases and 22,820 deaths.
JABS FOR KIDS
In the UK, daily cases have dropped by ten per cent in a month – with 44,242 new cases being recorded in the past 24 hours.
The number of deaths has dipped since yesterday, with 157 people dying up from 145 last Friday.
And Brits as young as five are set to be offered Covid jabs within months under secret NHS plans.
Leaked proposals show health bosses are preparing to vaccinate children aged between five and 11 next spring.
Officials fear Covid will continue to rage until 2024 – making it necessary to immunise younger Brits.
Health bosses have been sworn to secrecy about the spring campaign, with officials concerned the move could spark a backlash from some parents.
Before the rollout can go ahead, UK regulators must still green light it for use in under-12s.
Experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation must also approve use in those aged five to 11.
A senior source told The Sun: “Top secret plans reveal what is at stake if we are to achieve a meaningful victory over Covid. Asking parents for permission to jab kids as young as five is in the schedule.
“It is controversial, but will help us reach our goal.
“Nothing is in the public domain yet, and the plans could change, but jabbing young children is backed by many scientists.”
Although youngsters are at much lower risk of falling ill from Covid, they can still spread the virus to vulnerable adults.
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