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, 5 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. as our political correspondent ben wright explains, the different nations within the uk are taking very different approaches to tackling the new wave of cases. it s the pattern we ve seen throughout the pandemic, that different parts of the uk have taken their own approach to how to handle coronavirus.
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.
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. with me is our political correspondent ben wright. there is still a sense of people wanting more clarity, i think, with this new data showing that may be the effect is weaker, but we re still hearing about huge pressures on the health service and we are seeing other regions around the uk taking tougher measures potentially after christmas. after christmas. yes, it is the attern after christmas. yes, it is the pattern we after christmas. yes, it is the pattern we have after christmas. yes, it is the pattern we have seen - after christmas. yes, it is the . pattern we have seen throughout after christmas. yes, it is the - pattern we have seen throughout the pandemic come in different parts of the uk have taken their own approach to how to handle coronavirus. that is certainly the case now. england is certainly the case now
doubling every two days, that 50% will soon just be overwhelmed by the increase in case numbers. so that 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 dacosta, bbc news. let s speak to our political