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COVID-19: Concerns Raised Over Extending Vaccine Rollout to Younger Age Groups to Fight Indian Variant | Political news

A government minister said he did not approve of measures to break with government guidelines on vaccine deployment in areas where the Indian variant has been found – with the mayor of London calling for more flexibility.

When asked if he approves of authorities in Bolton vaccinating “anyone who wants it,” Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News: “No, I think the government has very clear guidelines in terms of how ordered to deploy the vaccine. “

But it came when the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he had asked Health Secretary Matt Hancock to give city authorities “the flexibility to give the vaccine to younger people in London neighborhoods. who are concerned about this strain “.

Handout photo of a team of St. John Ambulance vaccination volunteers at the ESSA Academy site in Bolton, Greater Manchester.  The army is to be deployed to Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen to aid mass testing efforts to combat the spread of the Indian variant.  Photo date: Saturday, May 15, 2021.
Picture:
St John Ambulance vaccination volunteers at the ESSA Academy site in Bolton, Greater Manchester

During the weekend, Bolton has distributed more than 6,200 doses of vaccine as he was struggling to combat an upsurge in cases, most of which were blamed on the Indian variant.

While just over 1,300 cases of the variant – also known as B.1.617 – have been found in the country so far, Mr Hancock said on Sunday it was “becoming the dominant strain in parts of the country “like Bolton and Blackburn.

This prompted authorities in Bolton to encourage all adults to go to vaccination centers to receive the vaccine – despite government guidelines recommending all people over 38 to get the vaccine, older groups and most vulnerable having already been invited.

As thousands rushed to take advantage of the offer in Bolton, there were reports that some of those who received the blow were under the age of 18.

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Indian variant ‘could spread like wildfire’

Mr. Kwarteng said the government guidelines had “worked and [it] was a very efficient deployment, …

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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-05-17 08:43:00