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
