U.K. projected to have one million Omicron infections by end of December

APD NEWS

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The U.K. will have more than one million Omicron cases by the end of this month if current trends continue unchanged, the country's Health Security Agency said on Friday, but noted that booster shots provide 70-75% protection against symptomatic infection.

"The preliminary data showed effectiveness against the new variant appears to increase considerably in the early period after a booster dose, providing around 70-75% protection against symptomatic infection," the UKHSA said in a statement.

"Due to the early nature of the findings, all estimates are subject to significant uncertainty and are subject to change," it added.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunization at the UKHSA, urged the public to take their booster jabs to reduce the risk of contracting the Omicron strain of COVID-19.

"These early estimates should be treated with caution but they indicate that a few months after the second jab, there is a greater risk of catching the Omicron variant compared to Delta strain," Sky News quotes her to say.

"The data suggest this risk is significantly reduced following a booster vaccine, so I urge everyone to take up their booster when eligible," she added.

(CGTN)