People line up to get a COVID-19 booster shot at University College London this month.

People line up to get a COVID-19 booster shot at University College London this month.Credit:AP

However,data from the agency also showed that while a booster improves protection,it starts to wane more rapidly than with Delta,and is 15 per cent to 25 per cent lower from 10 weeks after the third dose.

The agency also cautioned that the highly infectious nature of the variant could still lead to significant numbers of severe illness that squeeze the health service. Daily cases in the UK soared to a record of 119,789 on Thursday,piling pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson,who is waiting until after Christmas to make a final decision on new possible restrictions.

Johnson is being squeezed between warnings from his scientific advisers about dangers to the health system and pressure from a large group within his own party who are against new curbs.

The agency said 14 people have died within 28 days of an Omicron diagnosis,ranging in age from 52 to 96.

“Cases of the variant continue to rise at an extraordinary rate,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said. “Hospital admissions are increasing,and we cannot risk the NHS being overwhelmed.”

Booster effect

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It’s still unclear how the decreasing booster effect will factor into protection against severe disease. The current round of booster shots may still protect people from being hospitalised or getting severely ill,even as defence against infection wanes. UK officials want to see how that data develops before recommending a fourth dose,or moving toward a vaccine modified for Omicron.

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The UK assessment on severity backs up studies published on Wednesday that drew similar conclusions.

The agency said the data is still preliminary and further study is needed. Britain has embarked on an accelerated booster program in a bid to try and neutralise the impact of the fast-spreading Omicron.

Israel has already announced it will give people aged over 60 a fourth dose over fears that a booster that has not been administered within the last three to four months has lower protection against Omicron.

Bloomberg

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