# UK issues call to arms for Omicron booster drive Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-12-01 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Boris Johnson Urges Boosters as Omicron Cases Rise Meta Description: Stay safe from Omicron with booster jabs. PM Boris Johnson calls for increased vaccinations amid rising cases. URL: https://financedigest.com/uk-issues-call-to-arms-for-omicron-booster-drivehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-12-01t072136z1lynxmpehb01nertroptp4health-coronavirus-britain-1736836755864-compressed.jpg) By Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) -Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a “call to get jabs in arms” on Wednesday as Britain stepped up its COVID-19 booster programme to fend off the Omicron variant after another 10 cases of the new strain were identified. Britain has now recorded 32 cases of the Omicron variant, which appears to be more transmissible, while tests continue to see whether it causes more severe disease or if vaccines are less effective against it. It is very likely that we will find more cases over the coming [days as we are seeing](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-retailers-see-40-jump-in-boxing-day-shoppers-springboard.html "UK retailers see 40% jump in Boxing Day shoppers -Springboard") in other countries globally,” said Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency. Johnson announced a new target this week to offer all adults a [booster vaccine shot](https://www.financedigest.com/fda-advisers-back-the-same-covid-vaccine-for-initial-shots-boosters.html "FDA advisers back the same COVID vaccine for initial shots, boosters") by the end of January, which means speeding up the country’s programme by an extra million doses a week. With the emergence of the Omicron variant, [people needed](https://www.financedigest.com/banks-need-to-digitise-financial-wellbeing-support-to-help-young-people-manage-through-this-recession.html "Banks need to digitise financial wellbeing support to help young people manage through this recession") to come forward, he said. This isn’t a [call to arms](https://www.financedigest.com/brits-would-call-in-sick-with-a-broken-arm-but-refuse-to-stop-driving.html "Brits would call in sick with a broken arm, but refuse to stop driving"), but a call to get jabs in arms. And quickly,” he said on Twitter. Britain has [recorded more than 10.2 million COVID cases and almost 145,000 deaths](https://www.financedigest.com/china-records-worlds-first-human-death-from-h3n8-bird-flu-who.html "China records world’s first human death from H3N8 bird flu -WHO") since the pandemic started. First reported in southern Africa a week ago, Omicron has spread to more than a dozen countries, spooking [financial markets](https://www.financedigest.com/the-political-wildcard-what-is-trumps-us-presidential-nomination-doing-to-financial-markets.html "The political wildcard: What is Trump’s US presidential nomination doing to financial markets?"). Governments have responded by reintroducing some [travel restrictions](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-to-restrict-travel-rules-for-russians-split-on-how-far-to-go.html "EU to restrict travel rules for Russians, split on how far to go"). Health Secretary Sajid Javid said booster [vaccines would help protect against severe disease from Omicron](https://www.financedigest.com/omicron-found-in-europe-11-days-ago-jolts-markets-on-vaccine-fears.html "Omicron, found in Europe 11 days ago, jolts markets on vaccine fears"), even if it turns out the shots are not as effective against the variant as against previous strains of the disease. Government [data shows 81% of the population aged over 12 have had two doses of vaccine](https://www.financedigest.com/interoperability-of-data-to-accelerate-the-flu-vaccines-market.html "Interoperability of data to accelerate the Flu Vaccines Market"), while 32% have had a booster shot, or third dose. Local doctors, however, have voiced concerns that the focus on boosters could divert resources from [efforts to clear](https://www.financedigest.com/turkey-clears-away-rubble-from-earthquake-rescue-efforts-wind-down.html "Turkey clears away rubble from earthquake, rescue efforts wind down") backlogs of treatments unrelated to COVID-19, built up during earlier lockdowns. “We’re simply not going to be able to do everything we’re doing at the moment,” Gary Howsam, vice chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, told Times Radio. The [government has also made it compulsory for people to wear masks on public](https://www.financedigest.com/the-network-group-events-calls-on-the-government-to-invest-in-public-awareness-campaign-around-cyber-security.html "The Network Group Events calls on the Government to invest in public awareness campaign around cyber security") transport and in shops to curb the spread of the new variant. However, health [minister Javid said there was no need](https://www.financedigest.com/swedish-energy-minister-need-to-decouple-gas-from-electricity-price.html "Swedish energy minister: need to decouple gas from electricity price") for people to cancel Christmas parties. Such festivities were banned last year, and Johnson faced accusations of hypocrisy on Wednesday after reports [Christmas parties were held at his Downing Street office during last year’s](https://www.financedigest.com/scam-special-how-to-avoid-christmas-shopping-fraud-this-year.html "Scam Special: How to Avoid Christmas Shopping Fraud this Year") lockdown. [Johnson said no rules](https://www.financedigest.com/betting-omicron-has-peaked-johnson-drops-covid-rules-in-england.html "Betting Omicron has peaked, Johnson drops COVID rules in England") had been broken. ($1 = 0.7508 pounds) (Additional reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Kate Holton and Angus MacSwan) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---