England Ready to Launch , Vaccination Program , Amid New Variant.
England is getting ready to step up its autumn flu
and COVID-19 vaccine programs after identifying
the highly-mutated BA.2.86 variant in circulation.
Scientists have reportedly said the new offshoot
of the Omicron variant is unlikely to result in
a severe wave of disease and death. .
Fox News reports that experts have suggested that
global immune defenses have strengthened from
a combination of vaccination and prior infection.
As our world-leading scientists gather
more information on the BA.2.86
variant, it makes sense to bring
forward the vaccination program, Maria Caulfield, Junior health minister, via Fox News.
Fox News reports that the BA.2.86 variant
was first detected in the U.K. on August 18.
The government's vaccination program
begins on September 11, with people at the
highest risk eligible to receive their shots first. .
On July 24, the BA.2.86 variant
was first detected in Denmark.
Fox News reports that the variant has since
been found in a handful of other countries.
There is limited information available
at present on BA.2.86 so the potential
impact of this particular variant
is difficult to estimate, Jenny Harries, U.K. Health Security
Agency Chief Executive, via Fox News.
As with all emergent and circulating
COVID-19 variants ... we will continue to
monitor BA.2.86 and to advise government
and the public as we learn more, Jenny Harries, U.K. Health Security
Agency Chief Executive, via Fox News