Booster blitz: UK races to get ahead of surging omicron
People queue to go for coronavirus booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, backdropped by the scaffolded Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue for coronavirus booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, with the National COVID Memorial Wall in the foreground, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue in a line, at right, to go for coronavirus booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue to go for COVID-19 booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, backdropped by the scaffolded Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue to go for COVID-19 booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
A man wearing a face mask walks on a platform at London Waterloo station, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Concerns about the new variant led Boris Johnson’s Conservative government to reintroduce restrictions that were lifted almost six months ago. Masks must be worn in most indoor settings, COVID-19 certificates must be shown to enter nightclubs and people are being urged to work from home if possible. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
A man talks on the phone while walking in an empty street in the financial district, known as The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A man enters London Waterloo station, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Concerns about the new variant led Boris Johnson’s Conservative government to reintroduce restrictions that were lifted almost six months ago. Masks must be worn in most indoor settings, COVID-19 certificates must be shown to enter nightclubs and people are being urged to work from home if possible. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
A worker sits in an office in the financial district The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A worker in an office in the financial district The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
People take part in an anti-COVID-19 passports and pro-freedom protest outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
General view of Liverpool Street railway station, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
People hold up vitamin C placards as they take part in an anti-COVID-19 passports and pro-freedom protest outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
A face mask lies on the floor in empty street in the financial district, known as The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
People queue to get a coronavirus booster jab at St Thomas’ Hospital, backdropped by the scaffolded Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue on Westminster Bridge for booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Kirsty O’Connor/PA via AP)
People queue at a vaccination centre in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
People queue for booster jabs at Sevenoaks Pharmacy in Sevenoaks, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)
People queue for booster jabs at St Thomas Hospital, London, Monday Dec. 13, 2021. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. Johnson said in a televised statement Sunday that everyone age 18 and older will be offered a third shot of vaccine by the end of this month. (David Hughes/PA via AP)
Few commuters are seen at Paddington Underground Station in London, early Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 as concerns about the new COVID-19 variant led British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative government to reintroduce restrictions including people being urged to work from home. The British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of the omicron variant had pushed the U.K. into risky territory. (Peter Clifton/PA via AP)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Stow Health Vaccination center, in Westminster, London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Jeremy Selwyn/Pool Photo via AP)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Stow Health Vaccination center, in Westminster, London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Jeremy Selwyn/Pool Photo via AP)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue to go for coronavirus booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, backdropped by the scaffolded Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue to go for coronavirus booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, backdropped by the scaffolded Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue for coronavirus booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, with the National COVID Memorial Wall in the foreground, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue for coronavirus booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, with the National COVID Memorial Wall in the foreground, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue in a line, at right, to go for coronavirus booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue in a line, at right, to go for coronavirus booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue to go for COVID-19 booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, backdropped by the scaffolded Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue to go for COVID-19 booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, backdropped by the scaffolded Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue to go for COVID-19 booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue to go for COVID-19 booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
A man wearing a face mask walks on a platform at London Waterloo station, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Concerns about the new variant led Boris Johnson’s Conservative government to reintroduce restrictions that were lifted almost six months ago. Masks must be worn in most indoor settings, COVID-19 certificates must be shown to enter nightclubs and people are being urged to work from home if possible. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
A man wearing a face mask walks on a platform at London Waterloo station, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Concerns about the new variant led Boris Johnson’s Conservative government to reintroduce restrictions that were lifted almost six months ago. Masks must be worn in most indoor settings, COVID-19 certificates must be shown to enter nightclubs and people are being urged to work from home if possible. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
A man talks on the phone while walking in an empty street in the financial district, known as The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A man talks on the phone while walking in an empty street in the financial district, known as The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A man enters London Waterloo station, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Concerns about the new variant led Boris Johnson’s Conservative government to reintroduce restrictions that were lifted almost six months ago. Masks must be worn in most indoor settings, COVID-19 certificates must be shown to enter nightclubs and people are being urged to work from home if possible. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
A man enters London Waterloo station, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Concerns about the new variant led Boris Johnson’s Conservative government to reintroduce restrictions that were lifted almost six months ago. Masks must be worn in most indoor settings, COVID-19 certificates must be shown to enter nightclubs and people are being urged to work from home if possible. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
A worker sits in an office in the financial district The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A worker sits in an office in the financial district The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A worker in an office in the financial district The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A worker in an office in the financial district The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
People take part in an anti-COVID-19 passports and pro-freedom protest outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People take part in an anti-COVID-19 passports and pro-freedom protest outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
General view of Liverpool Street railway station, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
General view of Liverpool Street railway station, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
People hold up vitamin C placards as they take part in an anti-COVID-19 passports and pro-freedom protest outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People hold up vitamin C placards as they take part in an anti-COVID-19 passports and pro-freedom protest outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
A face mask lies on the floor in empty street in the financial district, known as The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A face mask lies on the floor in empty street in the financial district, known as The City, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
People queue to get a coronavirus booster jab at St Thomas’ Hospital, backdropped by the scaffolded Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue to get a coronavirus booster jab at St Thomas’ Hospital, backdropped by the scaffolded Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
People queue on Westminster Bridge for booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Kirsty O’Connor/PA via AP)
People queue on Westminster Bridge for booster jabs at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Kirsty O’Connor/PA via AP)
People queue at a vaccination centre in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
People queue at a vaccination centre in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
People queue for booster jabs at Sevenoaks Pharmacy in Sevenoaks, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)
People queue for booster jabs at Sevenoaks Pharmacy in Sevenoaks, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)
People queue for booster jabs at St Thomas Hospital, London, Monday Dec. 13, 2021. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. Johnson said in a televised statement Sunday that everyone age 18 and older will be offered a third shot of vaccine by the end of this month. (David Hughes/PA via AP)
People queue for booster jabs at St Thomas Hospital, London, Monday Dec. 13, 2021. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. Johnson said in a televised statement Sunday that everyone age 18 and older will be offered a third shot of vaccine by the end of this month. (David Hughes/PA via AP)
Few commuters are seen at Paddington Underground Station in London, early Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 as concerns about the new COVID-19 variant led British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative government to reintroduce restrictions including people being urged to work from home. The British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of the omicron variant had pushed the U.K. into risky territory. (Peter Clifton/PA via AP)
Few commuters are seen at Paddington Underground Station in London, early Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 as concerns about the new COVID-19 variant led British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative government to reintroduce restrictions including people being urged to work from home. The British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of the omicron variant had pushed the U.K. into risky territory. (Peter Clifton/PA via AP)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Stow Health Vaccination center, in Westminster, London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Jeremy Selwyn/Pool Photo via AP)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Stow Health Vaccination center, in Westminster, London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Jeremy Selwyn/Pool Photo via AP)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Stow Health Vaccination center, in Westminster, London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Jeremy Selwyn/Pool Photo via AP)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Stow Health Vaccination center, in Westminster, London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (Jeremy Selwyn/Pool Photo via AP)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
People queue outside a vaccination center in Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
LONDON (AP) — Long lines formed Monday at vaccination centers across England as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect themselves against the omicron variant, and as the U.K. recorded its first death of a patient infected with omicron.
In a televised announcement late Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said everyone 18 and up would be offered a third vaccine dose by Dec. 31 — less than three weeks away, and a month earlier than the previous target. Johnson said boosters would “reinforce our wall of vaccine protection” against an anticipated “tidal wave of omicron.”
U.K. health authorities say omicron cases are doubling every two to three days in Britain, and that the variant will replace delta as the dominant coronavirus strain within days. Health Secretary Sajid Javid told lawmakers Monday that omicron will be dominant in London “within 48 hours.”
While omicron is acknowledged to be much more transmissible than previous coronavirus variants, it’s unclear both how virulent it is and whether the expected wave of infections will inundate the country’s state-funded health care system
Barely two weeks after it was identified in South Africa, 10 people are in British hospitals with omicron-related COVID-19. The British government raised the country’s coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning that the rapid spread of omicron “adds an additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services.”
Scientists in South Africa say the variant may cause less severe disease than the delta variant but caution that it’s too soon to be certain. Health authorities around the world are watching Britain closely to see what an omicron surge looks like in a country with an older, more highly vaccinated population than South Africa’s.
“The idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus, I think that’s something we need to set on one side and just recognize the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population,” Johnson said as he visited a vaccination center in London. “So the best thing we can do is all get our boosters.”
The U.K. Health Security Agency says existing vaccines appear less effective in preventing symptomatic infections in people exposed to omicron, though that effectiveness appears to rise to between 70% and 75% after a third dose.
More than 80% of people age 12 and up in Britain have received two vaccine doses, and 40% of adults have had three. But the acceleration of the booster program will be a huge challenge, requiring almost 1 million doses given out each day — more than the previous high of around 850,000 a day. Some 750 soldiers and thousands of volunteer vaccinators will be drafted to give the shots at doctors’ offices, hospitals, pharmacies and pop-up vaccination centers.
Many routine procedures will be postponed as Britain’s National Health Service swings into high gear for the boosters.
While the online booster appointment system will not be open to under-30s until Wednesday, adults could — and did — show up at a walk-in centers to get a booster starting Monday.
At St. Thomas’ Hospital, on the south bank of the River Thames in London, the lines of people waiting for booster shots stretched across Westminster Bridge toward Parliament. At the Gordon Hospital walk-in clinic in central London, most of those lining up were in their 20s and 30s.
Sam Collins, 30, said he was “not especially” worried about omicron, “but I’d just prefer to be triple vaxxed.’'
“Also my partner has just had a baby and she’s not vaccinated, so if I can be extra vaccinated, then that will help,” he said.
The government’s appointment-booking website struggled to keep up with demand, and also ran out of rapid at-home virus test kits, which have been distributed free to households during the pandemic.
The British government’s Dec. 31 booster target applies to England. The other parts of the U.K. — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — are also expected to speed up their vaccination campaigns.
While omicron is spreading around the world, Britain may be especially affected because it ordinarily has high levels of travel to South Africa. The omicron outbreak is also more visible in Britain because U.K. is also a world leader in genomic sequencing, which identifies and tracks new variants.
Researchers in the U.K. have sequenced about 13.3% of all positive cases, compared with 3.8% in the U.S., according to GISAID, which promotes rapid sharing of data on COVID-19 and the flu. While Iceland and Denmark have sequenced a greater percentage of their positive cases, the size of the U.K.’s population and the scope of its outbreak mean that Britain has sequenced many more cases.
This surveillance provided key evidence that Johnson and his chief medical officers used in deciding to tighten pandemic restrictions and ramp up the U.K.’s vaccination program.
Johnson’s Conservative government is requiring vaccine certificates to enter nightclubs and reintroducing restrictions that were lifted almost six months ago. Masks must be worn again in most indoor settings and as of Monday, people were urged to work from home if possible.
Many scientists say those measures are unlikely to be enough and are calling for tougher ones. But cafes, pubs and shops in city centers fear that plummeting numbers of commuters will hammer their businesses in the usually busy pre-Christmas period.
Johnson is facing a major rebellion from unhappy Conservative lawmakers when Parliament votes on the new virus restrictions. The measures are still highly likely to pass with support from the opposition Labour Party.
Robert Read, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Southampton, said it was still unclear how severe cases of COVID-19 from omicron are but “omicron probably requires much larger amounts of antibody in the blood in order to thwart the virus as much as possible.”
“We need to get those third doses into as many adults as we possibly can, just in case this virus turns out to be a raging bull rather than a pussy cat,” Read told radio station LBC.
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Pan Pylas in London contributed to this report.
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Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
