News

Booster jabs could be offered to all those over 18 to cut gap between third dose

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are due to make a decision on booster jabs and vaccine rollouts as early as today.

The Manc The Manc - 29th November 2021

Booster jabs could be offered to all those over 18 in efforts to cut the gap between the third dose as part of measures to reduce the spread of the new Omicron variant.

According to Whitehall sources, as reported by many major news outlets today, including BBC News and Sky News, experts on the UK’s government’s vaccine advisory body – the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) – are due to make a decision on offering booster jabs to all over-18s and cutting the gap before a third dose as early as today.

The group are also considering whether second doses should be offered to 12 to 15-year-olds, who currently are only entitled to one.

JCVI deputy chairman Professor Anthony Harnden said extending the age range for the booster jab rollout, and reducing the gap between second and third doses, was “a sensible strategy”.

ADVERTISEMENT

Currently, booster jabs have been restricted to those aged 40 and over, frontline health or social care workers, and those with health issues – but Professor Harnden told BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme on Sunday that there was a “strong argument” for extending boosters to all adults.

“Accelerating the booster programme both by extending the age range and by reducing the interval between the second dose and the booster dose would be a sensible strategy,” he said.

/ Credit: ITV News

When asked in the interview whether everyone over 18 should expect an invitation to get a booster jab, Professor Harnden responded that the offer would come “earlier than we have previously envisaged”.

ADVERTISEMENT

The expansion of the vaccination programme is just one part of a host of measures aimed at preventing the spread of the Omicron variant – first discovered in South Africa – of which there have been three cases detected in the UK, and, as announced this morning, six cases detected in Scotland.

Dr Jenny Harries – the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency – also acknowledged that it was “very likely” that further cases of Omicron would be discovered in the coming days.

The statements come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a Downing Street news conference on Saturday evening, alongside Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, in which a number of new measures were announced.

ADVERTISEMENT

Measures taking effect from 4am tomorrow:

  • Everyone entering the UK – other than those coming from the Common Travel Area that covers the Channel Islands and Ireland – will have to take a PCR test by the end of the second full day after their arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
  • All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate, regardless of whether or not they are fully vaccinated.
  • Face coverings will be made compulsory on public transport and in shops – but pubs and restaurants will remain exempt.

The variant has prompted the UK to place ten African countries on the red list – South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.

Featured Image – Parliament TV | Flickr

News

New cycle lanes and beer gardens closed as Northern Quarter building deemed ‘unsafe’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

A section of the new cycleway through the Northern Quarter has been temporarily closed just weeks after opening, after a historic building was deemed to be ‘unsafe’.

Metal fences have now been erected on Thomas Street, blocking part of the cycle lanes and taking over valuable outdoor space for the bars and restaurants along the street.

The building in question stands on the corner of Thomas Street and John Street, once home to the Al Faisal takeaway.

It’s part of a block of 19th century properties in the area that back in 2018 were deemed to be in ”imminent danger of collapse’.

The fencing has been erected around an unsafe building on Thomas Street while scaffolding is built. Credit: The Manc Group

Councillors now say that the Northern Quarter building is unsafe, and will need to be propped up with scaffolding.

The owners of the building want to protect its historic facade but are unable to begin work immediately due to the high construction costs.

But until the scaffolding can be built, temporary fencing has been erected to protect members of the public.

It’s understood that the work will take up to 10 working days to complete.

Several images of the fencing have been circulation on social media, with the NQHQ account tweeting: “If you thought the cycleway through the Northern Quarter was sh*t…..well it just got sh*tter.”

Piccadilly Labour have said: “Building on the corner unfortunately deemed unsafe. Cllr @JonConnorLyons met with the owners who are putting up scaffolding and want to preserve the facade of the building – current construction costs are incredibly high for them to proceed with the development plans this year.”

Councillor Jon-Connor Lyons then added: “Winter weather has made the building vulnerable & cracks have formed which has resulted in the building having to be supported by scaffolding, whilst this happens, these fences have been put up to protect the public. Some reveal in this sort – that is a shame.”

Read more: Manchester City Council defends new cycle lanes through Northern Quarter as they’re branded ‘absurd’

Although the fencing is there in the public’s interest, several local hospitality businesses are concerned about the impact this will have on trade – especially as the fencing has appeared during the heatwave, when punters will be wanting to be outdoors to make the most of the sunny weather.

The Smithfield Social, which is part-owned by the Courteeners’ Liam Fray, has lost a chunk of its outdoor seating – though it does still have space for tables on Edge Street.

A spokesperson for the bar said: “The building works which commenced yesterday have impacted our outside trade significantly.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We usually have eight tables out the front but after lengthy talks with councils and licensing we have come up with a solution which means we now have a severely reduced area with only four tables.

“The area seems to be an after thought as we are the only business affected by it. Fierce have moved their area but they do not lose any space.

“I have no doubt that we have lost significant patronage because of this, as who wants to sit outside with heavy machinery next to you and dust being blown in your face? Quite unfortunate timing with the great weather we are forecast to have over the coming days.”

The Manc has approached Manchester City Council for comment.

Featured image: The Manc Group

News

New stations appear across Manchester for city’s rentable ‘Burnham bike’ scheme

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The roll-out of Greater Manchester’s Bee Bike cycle hire scheme has stepped up a gear, with new docking stations appearing across the city centre.

The scheme, nicknamed the ‘Burnham bikes’ as a nod to London’s ‘Boris bikes’, initially launched in Salford and along the Oxford Road corridor.

Several new yellow stations have appeared around Manchester now, with plenty more on the way.

The next phase of the roll-out of the Bee Bikes has seen stations installed around St Peter’s Square and Manchester Central.

‘Burnham Bike’ cycle hire stations near St Peter’s Square. Credit: The Manc Group

By the time the scheme is complete, bike numbers will increase to 1,500, which will include 300 e-bikes.

It’s all part of the vision for a Bee Network – a joined-up, integrated public transport network across the region.

And it’s certainly off to a more successful start than Mobike, which famously withdrew from Manchester due to high levels of vandalism and theft.

The Bee Bikes are funded by TgGM and operated by Beryl, which runs similar schemes in London, Watford and Bournemouth.

Richard Nickson, programme director, Cycling and Walking at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “The cycle hire scheme has really taken off in Greater Manchester since it was first introduced, and we are seeing significant numbers of riders and distances travelled by on the bikes- which is fantastic, particularly as we are still in the early days of the scheme’s roll out.

“The next phase of the roll-out has now started in Manchester city centre, with new stations installed at key locations including Manchester Central Library, Manchester Central Convention Centre and
St Peter’s Square.

Read more: Manchester is OFFICIALLY in the running to host Eurovision

“More stations are due to be installed in Manchester city centre over the coming weeks, before the scheme continues to expand its footprint to new locations in Salford and Trafford.

“Once complete the scheme will see bike numbers increase to 1,500 – including 300 e-bikes – and over 150 new stations in operation.”

To see all the new stations as they appear and find the nearest one to you, you can download the Bee Network Cycle Hire app.

Featured image: TfGM

More News

Gigs & Nightlife

Manchester is OFFICIALLY in the running to host Eurovision

Business

New record high number of jobs being advertised in the UK for 2022

City Centre

Manchester restaurant famed for ‘inflexible’ tasting menu completely flips the script

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches