Shaun Davis : 'Get boosted now'

[POSTMAN]

Shaun Davis

“Get boosted now”

The Prime Minister has just given his latest, planned, address at 8pm (12.12.21).

See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59631570

The headline is that the alert level has risen to level four and that booster jabs will be offered to everyone over 18 in England from this week as the PM declared an "Omicron emergency" adding "No one should be in any doubt, there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming."

The target to vaccinate all adults by the end of January 2022 will be brought forward by a month, he said.
The PM gave his Covid update just hours after the UK's Covid alert level was raised to four due to the spread of new Omicron virus variant.

Level four means a high or rising level of transmission - and the last time the UK was at level four was in May 2021.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52634739for further explanation.

A further 1,239 new cases of Omicron were announced in the UK on Sunday, bringing the total number of UK Omicron cases to more than 3,000 - although the real number is estimated to be much higher.

"I'm afraid we're now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant Omicron," said the PM, "It is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need. But the good news is that our scientists are confident that with a third dose, a booster dose, we can all bring our level of protection back up."

He added: "At this point our scientists cannot say that Omicron is less severe and even if that proved to be true, we already know it is so much more transmissible that a wave of Omicron through a population that was not boosted would risk a level of hospitalisation that could overwhelm our NHS and lead sadly to very many deaths."

The new booster target means people aged 18 and over in England will be able to get their third jabs from this week - as long as it has been three months since their second dose.

Further announcements from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected in coming days.
We should not underestimate the herculean task that this represents – the NHS would have to “match their best vaccination day” and consistently beat it to accelerate the roll out.

This would mean bringing forwards the target from seven weeks to three weeks: looking at the numbers this is 18m people jabbed in 19 days – roughly 1m per day – yesterday was 483k so the numbers need to be doubled, hence why the military and others are being drafted in.
The PM said in order to reach the new jab target, certain other medical appointments will need to be postponed to the New Year.
Some GPs are already allowed to postpone routine health checks to make space for vaccinations.

The PM also said to support the effort that:
· 42 military planning teams will be deployed across every region to help.
· Extra vaccine sites and mobile units will be set up across England.
· Opening hours of clinics will be extended with more appointments.
· Thousands more volunteer vaccinators will be trained

Early data shows that getting a third booster dose prevents around 75% of people getting any Covid symptoms from Omicron.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have already opened up boosters to over-30s - and those aged 18 to 29 in Scotland can get their booster jabs from later in the week.

Earlier, the rules on self-isolation were updated again in England.

From Tuesday, fully-vaccinated people who come into contact with a Covid will not need to automatically self-isolate - but instead take daily lateral flow tests for seven days.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-54239922

It is the latest rule change, after the UK government brought in new Plan B measures - including Covid passports for some crowded events and asking people to work from home.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518

Both Wales and Scotland have said new rules could come in the next few weeks.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59628666for further discussion.

[POSTMAN]

Q: Are we still allowed to share vans at alert level 4 ?

A :
Shaun Davis
Yes, providing local risk assessments are still in place, face coverings are worn and the cab is ventilated. If social distancing requirements change we will update. Thanks.

[SpacePhoenix]

From Tuesday, fully-vaccinated people who come into contact with a Covid will not need to automatically self-isolate - but instead take daily lateral flow tests for seven days.

With Omicron being more infections than Delta, that's going to potentially be a massive increase in the number of LFTs and PCRs heading through the system

[daveyeff]

had 70 today on the 2 duties....so give it a fortnight or so it will be 400

[iHateD2Ds]

So Shaun is just repeating Government’s advice on the Omicron Variant
“Get your Booster Now”
Which assumes getting Triple jabbed is 75% effective against Covid


Where is the enhanced Covid Safe Working Practice Like one person per van?
Oh ,I forgot we have the vans but not necessarily in the right places and after all we are an emergency service!
I would have thought prevention of infection was the key but that would cost RMG money.

So far Data suggest Omicron seems to be milder than Delta but twice transmissible.
But what about the next variant?
Twice Transmissible and twice more severe?

Come on RMG you need to be pro active because this is going to be a long haul.

[tractorboy2]

I thought Shaun Davis had left Royal Mail ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I thought Shaun Davis had left Royal Mail ?

Not yet, due to go in February 2022.

[Clappedoutpostie]

These boosters seem to be knocking people of 6 more than the initial jabs.