The uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Britain has slowed down and, in a bid to avoid a large fourth wave of infections this winter overwhelming the National Health Service, the government on Monday opened walk-in clinics where appointments are no longer needed to get a booster jab.
Anyone aged over 50 who had their second dose of vaccine more than six months ago can now turn up for their booster at the clinics. Care home staff and front-line health workers can also use the centers along with those who have underlying health conditions that put them most at risk from the coronavirus.
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Several studies in the UK, the U.S., Israel and Qatar show that vaccine effectiveness drops six months after the second dose. Efficacy of the jab made by Pfizer declined from 88 percent to 47 percent after six months, with similar results for AstraZeneca's shot. But protection after six months against severe disease, hospitalization and death remain strong at 90 percent.
The drop appears to be due to waning effectiveness rather than more virulent new strains of COVID-19, such as Delta.
Only around half of the 12 million people eligible for a third booster vaccine have taken up the offer, hence the new walk-in clinics. Some 14 percent of the population over the age of 12 have not been vaccinated at all,
Back in July, the Government decided to end almost all Covid-19-related restrictions, calling it "Freedom Day."
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited a COVID-19 vaccination center in London recently as the government urged over-50s to get their booster jab. /Matt Dunham/Pool via Reuters
Cases have been rising since then and rather than introduce new restrictions, including the compulsory wearing of masks in crowded indoor spaces, the UK is hoping that increasing vaccination rates will be enough to limit hospital admissions if there is a fourth wave of the pandemic this winter.
Despite Britain's vaccination program, the number of people catching the coronavirus remains higher than in many parts of Europe.
The latest figures show there were almost 9,000 cases per million of the population on October 31.
Belgium is the closest, with almost 7,000 cases per million, while Germany, France and Italy are well below those figures.
In terms of the number of people dying from COVID-19, Britain remains top of the list with more than 2,000 new deaths recorded every fortnight.
That's almost double the number of deaths in Germany and significantly more than France and Italy. Belgium, which has a high number of infections, has the lowest number of deaths.
The UK's vaccine roll-out for 12 to 16-year-olds is lagging several other European countries and teenagers can now use these walk-in clinics. Vaccination teams are also going directly to schools.
Meanwhile on Monday, the UK eased its travel rules, removing all the remaining red list countries. Until now, anyone entering the UK from a red list country, even those fully vaccinated, had to pay to quarantine in a hotel. Now they just need to take a COVID-19 test on their second day of being in the country.
Cover picture: David Birkbeck receives a COVID-19 booster vaccine at Regent Pharmacy in Northampton, Britain. Reuters/Andrew Boyers