Concerns Rise as Omicron Spreads Rapidly Across England

Nearly two-thirds of care home staff across England have not received their Covid-19 booster vaccine, with the situation worsening in London, where Omicron is believed to be the dominant strain. According to NHS England data up to December 12, only 34.3% of staff in older adult care homes have had their booster, dropping further to just 24.7% in the capital.

For care home residents, 79.4% have received their third dose, leaving over 65,000 individuals without recorded booster vaccinations. Among younger adult care homes, the figures are similarly concerning: 63.9% of residents and 30.1% of staff have been boosted, with over 60,000 staff and nearly 13,000 residents yet to be recorded.

Domiciliary care providers face an even greater challenge, as 78.3% of staff remain unrecorded as having received their booster dose.

Eligibility for the booster requires a gap of at least three months from the second dose. Additionally, individuals who recently tested positive for Covid-19 must wait 28 days before getting boosted.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called on the nation to “get boosted now” in an effort to slow the rapid spread of Omicron. The figures, based on reports from the majority of care homes and care providers, may understate booster uptake due to delays in reporting or unknown vaccination statuses, NHS England explained.

The urgency of increasing booster coverage comes as the UK government intensifies its efforts to combat Omicron’s spread, with care home staff vaccination rates highlighted as a critical area for improvement.