that 50% will soon just be overwhelmed by the increasing case numbers. so, the total impact of omicron is still very, very significant, because it s such a highly transmissible virus and it s growing so quickly. in the face of rapidly rising infections, record numbers of boosters are now being administered. 30 million have beenjabbed so far. from the new year, boosters will be offered to all over 16s, as well as at risk 12 to 15 year olds, those living with someone with a weakened immune system, and teenagers who are immunosuppressed themselves will get a fourth jab. for the first time, five to 11 year olds in the uk, with specific health conditions, will be offered two smaller doses of the pfizer vaccine eight weeks apart. christmas may be just days away, but scientists are working flat out to provide the data governments need to make tough decisions on how best to respond to the virus. katherine da costa, bbc news.
particularly some of the older people who are more vulnerable and who are boosted first may want once again become vulnerable and need further boosting. we need to watch the situation clearly and we want to get vaccines to those who need them but that clearly is now on the agenda for discussion. presumably much too early to say whether we are getting towards the point where a virus that starts off as being incredibly virulent and without vaccinations at the start of this pandemic, that was a situation we were in, has caused so many deaths, we are perhaps not at the point where we are able to say is this virus virus now sufficiently mild that people may not need to be vaccinated against it? mild that people may not need to be vaccinated against it?- i - vaccinated against it? well, i am talking vaccinated against it? well, i am talking about vaccinated against it? well, i am talking about future - vaccinated against it? well, i- am talking about future vaccinations are not the b
wearing facemasks and on shops and public transport. trite wearing facemasks and on shops and public transport- wearing facemasks and on shops and public transport. we can t emphasise does messages public transport. we can t emphasise does messages or public transport. we can t emphasise does messages or advice public transport. we can t emphasise does messages or advice enough, . does messages or advice enough, especially at a time when people want to get together with family and friends. what other advice would you give to people to try to stay safe and try to curb the spread of this virus over the festive season? it is ve eas virus over the festive season? it is very easy at virus over the festive season? it is very easy at this virus over the festive season? it 3 very easy at this time of year to mistake covid for another virus so i would say that any symptoms you have that might be a sore throat cough or anything that cuts could be covid, please isolate and get a pcr tes
professor fenn, thank you for your time today. a lot of detail, a lot of lines to look at. and let s look at this preliminary data from several studies indicating that omicron may cause a milder illness than the delta variant and the uk health security agency is due to publish more data later, we think. what is your assessment of the information so far? we what is your assessment of the information so far? what is your assessment of the information so far? we have several bits of information information so far? we have several bits of information pointing - information so far? we have several bits of information pointing in - information so far? we have several bits of information pointing in that i bits of information pointing in that direction so that is exactly what we needed to hear, really. whether it is the virus it s self that is more benign or whether it s because we have more immunity, either way, it is still good news. on the other hand, as you havejust is still good news.