Booster jabs could be offered to adults aged eighteen and over across England as part of new measures being introduced in response to the new Omnicron variant of Covid-19 - termed a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organisation on Friday.
Multiple sources are reporting this morning that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is expected to make a decision on offering booster jabs to all adults over eighteen as early as this afternoon.
The group will also discuss whether to offer a second vaccine dose to school-age children between 12 and 15. Currently, this age group is only being offered one dose.
JCVI deputy chairman Professor Anthony Harnden said extending the age range for the booster jab rollout, and reducing the gap between second and third doses, was “a sensible strategy”.
Currently, booster jabs have been restricted to those aged 40 and over, frontline health or social care workers, and those with health issues – but Professor Harnden told BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme on Sunday that there was a “strong argument” for extending boosters to all adults.
“Accelerating the booster programme both by extending the age range and by reducing the interval between the second dose and the booster dose would be a sensible strategy,” he said.
COVID-19 vaccine marshalling at Wetherby Health Centre / Image: Commons Wikimedia
When asked in the interview whether everyone over 18 should expect an invitation to get a booster jab, Professor Harnden responded that the offer would come “earlier than we have previously envisaged”.
The expansion of the vaccination programme is just one part of a host of measures aimed at preventing the spread of the Omicron variant – first discovered in South Africa – of which there have been three cases detected in the UK, and, as announced this morning, six cases detected in Scotland.
Dr Jenny Harries – the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency – also acknowledged that it was “very likely” that further cases of Omicron would be discovered in the coming days.
The statements come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a Downing Street news conference on Saturday evening, alongside Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, in which a number of new measures were announced.
Measures taking effect from 4am tomorrow:
Everyone entering the UK – other than those coming from the Common Travel Area that covers the Channel Islands and Ireland – will have to take a PCR test by the end of the second full day after their arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate, regardless of whether or not they are fully vaccinated.
Face coverings will be made compulsory on public transport and in shops – but pubs and restaurants will remain exempt.
The variant has prompted the UK to place ten African countries on the red list – South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.
Featured Image – Parliament TV | Flickr
UK News
M&S launches massive recruitment drive in Leeds with hundreds of jobs available
M&S has launched a massive recruitment drive across Yorkshire.
With the festive season fast approaching, and most British stores having already unveiled their Christmas ranges for 2026, one of the country’s largest brands has launched a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drives to gear up for what is always one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry.
M&S has announced it will recruit for plenty of new colleagues across the UK.
As mentioned Christmas is one of the busiest moments of the year for M&S, and seasonal colleagues play a ‘vital’ part in delivering that.
Image: Supplied
New recruits will be tasked with helping M&S deliver a ‘brilliant’ service for customers.
Stores with vacancies span the whole of Leeds - including city centre, Moortown, Crown Point, White Rose Shopping Centre and Pudsey.
M&S says the roles are ‘fast-moving and hands-on’, with colleagues required to work together to make sure customers still get the very best of M&S, even at its busiest.
The roles will pay £13.41 per hour, with successful applicants receiving the training, tools and support needed to get up to speed quickly.
“We can’t wait to welcome over 300 new colleagues to our store teams here in Greater Manchester,” commented Zeba Khan, who is the Regional Manager at M&S.
“As we get ready for our busiest time of year, it’s a great opportunity to join us and help bring a magical M&S Christmas to our customers.
“We have a range of opportunities available, whether joining our city centre flagship or our fresh market-style foodhalls. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about delivering great customer service and being part of a team.”
Fancy it then? Applications are now open, and you can find out more and apply on the M&S Christmas careers page here.
Bradford set for major new train station as plans promise faster journeys to Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield
Clementine Hall
The Government have revealed plans for a new train station at Bradford Interchange.
The new station will bring passengers across the North more reliable services, better connections and faster journeys across Leeds, Manchester and York.
The new site at Bradford Interchange will unlock the potential to regenerate Bradford's Southern Gateway, and in hand with the proposed West Yorkshire Mass Transit, will support thousands of new homes, jobs, and up to £1 billion in economic benefits.
The station will also become part of Great British Railways (GBR), the new publicly owned railway that will bring track and train together helping deliver a more reliable, efficient and passenger-focused railway.
Image: Northern
The announcement marks a major milestone in the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
The NPR aims to deliver a 'turn-up-and-go' railway for passengers, meaning multiple trains an hour will run frequently enough between major cities across the North that passengers won’t need to check a timetable before going to the station.
The new station is set to be delivered in the 2030s, replacing the current station built in the 2030s.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said: “Today is an exciting and important milestone for Bradford, with an iron clad commitment to a new station in the city centre.
“Bradford has so much untapped potential, and faster, more frequent trains to Leeds and Manchester, and the transformation of the city centre through Bradford City Village, will help to finally unleash it.
“Together with investment for northern powerhouse rail, a mass transit system for West Yorkshire and our brand-new Weaver Network, we are working in lockstep with the government to deliver a better-connected region.”
Henri Murison MBE, Chief Executive of Northern Powerhouse Partnership said: "The decision to build Bradford’s new station at the interchange in the city centre is a long-term commitment to the city and the wider North.”
“By unlocking the regeneration of the Southern Gateway we will see homes and jobs for this city which otherwise would not be built or come here. Working with the council and Mayor Tracy Brabin and her team I will be doing everything I can to push on and move forward with ambitious plans that enable future phases of Northern Powerhouse Rail. This network will better connect the young people in the city with opportunities in Manchester and Liverpool as well as Sheffield.”
The Hoot -
29th November 2021 
