Shillong, September 19: The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is urging individuals aged 65 and above to promptly receive top-up booster vaccines as the Pirola mutation of the Omicron strain raises concerns among health experts.
AS per IANS, with more people being hospitalized due to the highly-mutated BA.2.86 virus, older adults in England are being advised to get an additional Covid booster shot. This proactive measure aims to enhance protection against the evolving Covid variants.
The NHS has announced that free vaccines will soon be extended to other vulnerable groups. The statement released by the NHS on Monday states, “Hundreds of thousands of adults eligible for winter vaccines, including individuals aged 65 and over, pregnant women, and those with underlying health conditions, will receive invitations from the NHS to encourage them to receive their Covid and flu vaccinations starting this week.”
Covid hospital admissions have surged to a rate of 4.6 per 100,000 people, the highest since April, although still below the levels seen last winter. Among age groups, hospitalization rates are most elevated among individuals aged 85 and older, followed by those aged 75 to 84.
Steve Russell, NHS director for vaccinations and screening, emphasized the importance of vaccines, stating, “Vaccines are our best protection against flu and Covid-19, and I strongly encourage all eligible people to come forward for their life-saving winter vaccines as soon as they can.”
The UK Health Security Agency (HSA) recently reported 34 cases of the BA.2.86 variant, with 28 cases traced back to a single elderly care home in Norfolk. This cluster suggests that the variant may possess increased transmissibility and impact in close-contact settings.