• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Monday, July 21, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

    Red letter day for young Skelton farmer

    Red letter day for young Skelton farmer

    Cumbrian bellringers success in national contest

    Cumbrian bellringers success in national contest

    Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

    Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

  • Sport
    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

    Red letter day for young Skelton farmer

    Red letter day for young Skelton farmer

    Cumbrian bellringers success in national contest

    Cumbrian bellringers success in national contest

    Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

    Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

  • Sport
    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest
This article appears as part of a paid partnership with the UK Government

Experts reveal the facts about Omicron variant

by CWH
31 January 2022
in Latest, Sponsored
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Latest COVID-19 variant Omicron is highly infectious and still spreading.

It is more important than ever we all get vaccinated to protect ourselves, our family and friends. Boosters increase our protection against the virus up to more than 88 per cent.

We talk to myth-busting medical experts who answer your most frequently asked questions about these essential jabs.

What protection does a booster jab give?

Dr Emeka Okorocha, who works in A&E in London and South East, said: “As a doctor, I have seen first-hand the effect COVID-19 can have on people. I want to remind everyone you can still get seriously ill with the virus, so it is so important to get the jab to keep ourselves, your friends and loved ones safe.

COVID-19 is highly infectious. The vaccine remains our best line of defence against it.

Omicron is highly transmissible and still has the potential to lead to significant numbers of people in hospital, so it’s so important your immunity is topped up, and to come forward for your first or second dose if you haven’t already. We don’t know what threat any future variants may pose, so if you haven’t come forward for any jabs, it is absolutely essential you do so.”

‘ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL’: Dr Emeka Orkorocha

When can you have a booster jab?

Yorkshire-based Professor Mahendra G Patel OBE, Pharmacy and Inclusion and Diversity Lead, said: “You can get a COVID-19 booster three months after your second dose and 28 days after positive COVID test. It’s also not too late to get a first or second dose. Getting the vaccine has never been easier.

“Everybody aged 12 and over have now been offered two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. If you are 12 years old or above on the day the vaccinations are taking place in school, you will be able to access a vaccine.

“If you have not yet had a COVID-19 vaccine, it’s not too late. Appointments for first doses of COVID-19 vaccines are still available for anyone unvaccinated.”

PROFESSOR MAHENDRA G PATEL

Is it safe to have a booster jab if I’m pregnant?

London-based Dr Jenny Jardine from Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, who is also seven months pregnant and has had her COVID-19 booster jab, said: “Both as a doctor and pregnant mother myself, we can now be very confident the COVID-19 vaccinations provide the best possible protection for you and your unborn child against this virus.

“I would strongly call on all pregnant women like me, if you haven’t had the vaccine yet, to either speak to your GP or midwife if you still have questions and then book right away today.”

‘VERY CONFIDENT’: Dr Jenny Jardine

Does a booster jab carry side effects?

Dr Okorocha said: “The COVID-19 vaccine is quick, easy and free. Don’t worry about the side effects. Like all medicines, the COVID-19 vaccines may cause some side effects, but most of these are mild and short-term, lasting no longer than a week, and not everyone gets them. Also, if you weren’t able to get your booster dose because you had COVID-19, remember to book your jab 28 days after you no longer have the virus.”

How easy is it to get a booster jab?

Bradford-based NHS Dr Amir Khan said: “We know many people are juggling busy lives, which is exactly why the NHS is making it as easy as possible for you to get your booster.

“New walk-in vaccination sites have been set up across the country, and existing sites have extended their opening hours, so as many people as possible can get jabbed as soon as possible.

“And, once you’ve had your vaccine, then why not encourage your friends and family to book as well, so we all have the best protection possible.”

‘BEST PROTECTION POSSIBLE’: Dr Amir Khan

How effective is a booster jab?

Prof Patel said: “New analysis of vaccine efficacy by UKHSA has found protection against hospitalisation from vaccines is good against the Omicron variant.

“When the reduced risk of hospitalisation was combined with vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease, the vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation was estimated as 88 per cent two weeks after a booster dose.

“One dose of any vaccine was associated with a 35 per cent reduced risk of hospitalisation among symptomatic cases with the Omicron variant, two doses with a 67 per cent reduction up to 24 weeks after the second dose and a 51 per cent reduced risk 25 or more weeks after the second dose.”

Your booster jab is vital

Every adult needs to get a COVID-19 Booster vaccine, because two doses of the vaccine do not give enough protection against catching the Omicron variant.

Check your eligibility and find out how to book at nhs.uk/covidvaccination if you are in England.

If you are in Scotland visit: nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine

· For Wales visit: gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination

· For Northern Ireland visit: covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated

Related Posts

Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed
Expert advice

Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

20 July 2025
Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank
Latest

Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

19 July 2025
Five boxes of nitrous oxide seized from car in Penrith
Latest

Five boxes of nitrous oxide seized from car in Penrith

17 July 2025
Cumbrian firefighters tackle early hours barn blaze
Latest

Cumbrian firefighters tackle early hours barn blaze

17 July 2025
Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape
Latest

Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

11 July 2025
Inflation and the impact on savings
Expert advice

Inflation and the impact on savings

11 July 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

18 July 2025
Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

18 July 2025
Cumbrian firefighters tackle early hours barn blaze

Cumbrian firefighters tackle early hours barn blaze

17 July 2025
Small rise in odour complaints in Penrith area

Small rise in odour complaints in Penrith area

18 July 2025
New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

18 July 2025
Kendal Calling commits £100,000 to Lake District conservation projects

Kendal Calling commits £100,000 to Lake District conservation projects

18 July 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald