Corona policy in Great Britain: booster vaccinations and a “Plan B”

In July, the British government lifted almost all corona restrictions. Since then, it has recorded tens of thousands of new infections every day. Countermeasures are to be taken with booster vaccinations and a “Plan B”.

The British government wants to get the corona situation in the country under control with booster vaccinations for around 30 million people. All people over 50 years of age as well as those with previous illnesses and caregivers should receive further immunization from the coming week.

As Health Minister Sajid Javid said, the government is following a recommendation from the responsible commission of experts, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI). The controversial recommendation to vaccinate children and adolescents between the ages of twelve and 15 in the future was also resolved.

mRNA vaccines particularly recommended

JCVI chairman Wei Shen Lim said vaccination data indicated a “slight decrease” in the protective effect of corona vaccines after the second vaccination dose from “a little over 90 percent to a little under 90 percent”. The greatest decrease is observed in people over 50 years of age. It is therefore sensible to offer them and other risk groups a booster vaccination.

As the head of the British Medicines Agency MHRA, June Raine, announced, vaccines from BioNTech / Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca can be used for this. The mRNA preparations from BioNTech / Pfizer and Moderna are therefore particularly recommended. Only half a dose of the latter vaccine should be given.

Infection numbers remain high

Britain had started its corona vaccination campaign in December. Around 81 percent of all adults have now been vaccinated twice. According to the UK health authorities, the vaccinations prevented around 24 million cases of infection and 112,000 deaths.

However, the infection numbers are still high despite the vaccination campaign. One of the reasons for this could be that the government lifted almost all corona restrictions in July. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his cabinet therefore reserve the right to reintroduce protective measures such as a mask requirement or a home office recommendation in autumn and winter. Vaccination passes for access to discos or stadiums would then also be possible.

“It just wouldn’t make sense to rule out such measures if they could be critical to keeping business open,” said Johnson. The measures are part of a “Plan B” if the pandemic cannot be kept under control with booster vaccinations. The emergency plans would only be put into effect if the pressure on the NHS health service in England was “unsustainable”.