Boris Johnson says UK preparing to launch fourth Covid vaccine: ‘We will need it’

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Boris Johnson said the UK will release another booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Johnson revealed the scheduled deployment date of the booster on Saturday in a speech at the Conservative Party’s spring conference.

In his speech, Johnson praised the “instinct” of the British people to “choose freedom every time,” noting that they “came up for vaccination so surprisingly quickly, voluntarily, unlike so many other countries.”

Johnson said that while they “partly wanted to avoid contracting Covid,” many did so because they “wanted to go on with their lives and were tired of being told what to do by people like me”.

Addressing the audience, he added, “I hope everyone got reinforcements. Well, we’re preparing for a fourth dose, because we’re going to need it.”

A fourth dose is already scheduled for those 75 or older, nursing home residents and immunocompromised people in the coming weeks.

However, Health Minister Sajid Javid suggested earlier this week that a fourth blow to the general population be delivered at the end of 2022.

ITV . said bolt:: “When it comes to vaccines, I think we’re taking the advice of our doctors right.

“They look at the data very carefully, and their last advice, she says, is that there should be a second booster dose, or let’s call it a fourth dose, but focus on those who are over 75, who live in nursing homes, those who are struggling. of immunosuppression.

Asked if this would extend to the general population, not just those considered to be at risk, Mr. Javid said: “I think at some point they will … His latest advice is to think by the end of this year, perhaps in the fall, it will be necessary Giving a boost to more people, but I’ll wait for that advice.”

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Infection Survey on Friday showed that one in 20 people in private homes in England contracted Covid-19 in the week ending March 12, as infections continue to rise across much of the UK.

The number, which equates to 2.7 million people, is up one in 25, or 2.1 million people, from the previous week.

Despite plans to scrap free testing and scrap all remaining Covid rules in England, NHS leaders have warned that the increase in Covid admissions is having a “significant impact” on the health service, including long waiting times for emergency beds and delays in operations.

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