British booster campaign: “As many vaccinations as possible”

Status: 11/30/2021 2:52 p.m.

Even in the first vaccination campaign, Great Britain was ahead of other EU countries – now it should be just as fast with the boosters. However, the new Omikron variant creates uncertainty.

By Christoph Prössl, ARD-Studio London

The camera was already on when the British Health Minister Sajid Javid and the reporter from “Skynews” spoke in front of a vaccination center about the journalist’s vaccination status. The Minister of Health asked whether it had already been boosted. No, the six months after the second vaccination are not over, the reporter replied. But under the new rule, he could be vaccinated for the third time, said Javid.

And if he went in there now, recommended the politician, then he would definitely get an injection. “Make me a promise,” said Javid, “go in now.” And in response to the journalist’s objection that he had to inform the office, the Minister of Health said: “We’ll do that. Come on, we’ll go in.” And the camera images show how the two disappear in the vaccination center.

Shorter interval between vaccinations

The British government is in a hurry: more than 17 million people have already received a third vaccination. Now the period after which a third vaccination is given should be shortened. So far: the third vaccination should not be given until six months after the second vaccination. In future, this should be possible after just three months.

“Vaccinations are our best line of defense against the disease,” said Health Minister Javid on Monday in the House of Commons.

With regard to the new Omikron variant, he added: “We do not yet know exactly how the vaccines react to the new variant.” But even “if they are possibly less effective”, it is “very unlikely” that they have no effect in order to avoid a serious course of the disease. Javid emphasized:

It is very important that we get as many vaccinations in arms as possible.

Rapid vaccination campaign brought government plus points

The government wants to repeat what it has already succeeded in doing: to implement a rapid vaccination program. After a false start at the beginning of the Corona crisis and confused statements by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the government and the NHS health service implemented a swift vaccination program.

The polls showed that many voters gave the government high credit for this. After the easing on July 19, the Johnson government had to reintroduce the mask requirement in shops and in local transport – but for months the British were satisfied with the corona policy and the easing. They also accepted high numbers of infections and many deaths. So far, over 145,000 people in Great Britain have died as a result of a corona infection.

More knowledge by Christmas?

Paul Moss, Professor of Immunology at the University of Birmingham, also sees the booster vaccinations as the right way to go. This creates more protection, he said in a BBC interview. When the journalist asked him whether this was not an exaggeration, Moss replied that with Covid it had become clear “that things are moving very quickly”. Science needs at least three weeks to get more information. “We’ll know more before Christmas,” assured Moss.

British government starts booster program

Christoph Prössl, NDR London, 11/30/2021 1:57 p.m.

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