SH Fears over new Covid variant sees flu and booster programme brought in early

The Covid booster jab programme has been brought forward four weeks early amid growing concerns over the new variant detected in England on August 18.  While scientists are yet to classify it as a “variant of concern”, the high number of mutations mean health experts are urging vulnerable people to get boosted.  This afternoon the Government urged eligible people to come forward for their booster jab “as soon as they’re invited”.  The move to shore up Brits’ immune systems comes as a “precautionary measure”, as UK scientists from the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) examine the new BA.2.86 variant.  Yesterday, Dr Hillary Jones has now warned that we could be facing “another wave”, with growing hospitalisations.  He warned Brits to “be careful”, as the Omicron sub-variant spreads following its WHO classification on August 9.