GPs given more cash for COVID jabs to combat new ‘Pirola’ strain
With NHS England’s autumn vaccination drive being brought forward, GP practices are being offered more money to speed up the process.
GP practices are being offered extra money for each COVID-19 jab they administer as NHS England brings forward its autumn booster programme.
A vaccination drive for over-65s and vulnerable groups was set for October, but will now start on 11 September, in a bid to tackle the new BA.2.86 variant, nicknamed Pirola.
The strain has had researchers on alert over its high number of mutations, and has been described by NHS officials as the “most concerning new variant since Omicron first emerged”.
While BA.2.86 is not being treated as an official “variant of concern”, and little is known about the symptoms it produces, the UK Health Security Agency has determined the most appropriate step “is to vaccinate all those eligible, quickly”.
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