Western Morning News (Saturday)
Boris speeds up vaccine roll-out
No change to lockdown easing, but Indian variant poses new risks
OVER-50s across the Westcountry are to be offered their second coronavirus vaccinations more quickly than planned as part of a nationwide race to beat the spread of the Indian variant of the disease.
Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference yesterday evening that he would not be changing direction on the road map to freedom immediately – but urged everyone to act responsibly, particularly if they were seeing loved ones who may not yet have had the second jab.
The South West has very low rates of the new variant, but it is causing concern because scientists fear it may be more transmissible. In other parts of the country, particularly in the North West, it has led to a rapid growth in infections, although not, so far, to more hospitalisations.
There is currently a 12-week gap between the first and second vaccinations with hundreds of thousands of people in the South West waiting for their second jab. That gap will be reduced to eight weeks, the Prime Minister said.
Mr Johnson said he could not say for certain whether the proposed complete easing of restrictions would now go ahead on June 21.
But the significant easing for indoor venues, allowing families to meet and hug again and groups of six to be able to meet indoors, will go ahead from Monday.
SECOND doses of coronavirus vaccines will be accelerated for the over-50s and the clinically vulnerable across the country – to be given eight weeks after the first dose instead of the planned 12 weeks – amid a rise in cases of the Indian variant.
And the Indian variant could make it “more difficult” for England to move to step four of the Government’s road map out of lockdown in June, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told yesterday’s Covid media briefing at Downing Street.
Mr Johnson warned that the Indian coronavirus variant could “pose a serious disruption” to plans to ease restrictions and “could make it more difficult” to end them as hoped in June. He told the Downing Street press conference: “I do not believe that we need, on the present evidence, to delay our road map and we will proceed with our plan to move to step three in England from Monday. But I have to level with you that this new variant could pose a serious disruption to our progress and could make it more difficult to move to step four in June.”
Mr Johnson said that if the Indian variant proves to be “significantly more transmissible” than other strains “we’re likely to face some hard choices”.
He said: “I’m told that if it is only marginally more transmissible we can continue more or less as planned but if the variant is significantly more transmissible we’re likely to face some hard choices.”
But he said there is “no evidence to suggest that our vaccines will be less effective in protecting people against severe illness and hospitalisation”.
Remaining second doses for the over50s will be accelerated so they come eight weeks after the first.
The Prime Minister told the Downing Street press conference: “I believe we should trust in our vaccines to protect the public whilst monitoring the situation as it develops very closely because the race between our vaccination programme and the virus may be about to become a great deal tighter and it’s more important than ever therefore that people get the protection of a second dose.
“So following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation we will accelerate remaining second doses to the over-50s and those clinically vulnerable right across the country so those doses come just eight weeks after the first dose.”
The PM said the army would be deployed on the streets of Blackburn and Bolton, which have seen a spike in cases of the new Indian variant, handing out tests to help the surge testing efforts. There will also be an acceleration of the vaccine rollout there, including longer opening hours at vaccination centres.
“If you’re seeing loved ones, think really carefully about the risk to them, especially if they haven’t had that second dose or if it hasn’t yet had time to take full effect,” he said.
He added: “I want us to trust people to be responsible, and to do the right thing. That’s the way to live with this virus while protecting the NHS and restoring our freedoms.
“It’s very clear now we’re going to have to live with this new variant of the virus for some time so let’s work together, and let’s exercise caution and common sense.”
Mr Johnson called on the people of Bolton and Blackburn to “play their part in stopping the spread of the new variant” and asked them to take the vaccine and the twice-weekly rapid tests.
“If you do test positive, you must selfisolate and we’ll provide financial support to those on low incomes to help them do so,” he said.
He added: “Our best chance of suppressing this variant is to clamp down on it, wherever it is and we’ll be throwing everything we can (at it).”
Mr Johnson later reiterated to reporters: “We will do whatever it takes to protect the people of this country.”