Maidenhead Advertiser

Race for boosters as hospitalit­y struggles

Residents urged to get a jab as Omicron spreads and new measures come in

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The race is on to dish out booster jabs as the Omicron COVID-19 variant continues to spread throughout the country.

A series of new restrictio­ns have been introduced to slow down the rapidly-spreading variant, including a recommenda­tion to work from home from this week, and the introducti­on of vaccine passports, which was voted through on Tuesday despite a significan­t Conservati­ve rebellion.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also announced this week that the Government would be stepping up its booster programme, with the aim of offering every adult the chance to book a third jab by the end of December.

In the Royal Borough, more than 50,000 people have already had their booster, but the news that younger adults could now have their jabs has prompted a surge in bookings nationwide.

The council’s cabinet member for health has encouraged residents to get their jabs, describing it as our ‘nuclear weapon’ in the fight against coronaviru­s.

In other developmen­ts in our area:

W Hospitalit­y businesses have called for more Government support following a flurry of Christmas party cancellati­ons in light of the Omicron news

W Health bosses have urged residents to cancel vaccine appointmen­ts if they cannot make them after a number of no-shows at an evening session in Maidenhead last week

W More than 1,000 positive coronaviru­s cases were recorded in Windsor and Maidenhead last week

W Windsor MP Adam Afriyie was among the Tory rebels at the vaccine passport vote on Tuesday, while Maidenhead MP Theresa May abstained.

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