UK scientists warn of urgent need for action on vaccines to head off autumn Covid wave

There could be more waves of Covid-19 cases in the autumn if health authorities are not prepared.

After last week's figures showed another dramatic jump in cases, scientists and doctors warned of that. More than 2 million people across Britain were found to be infectious during the week ending 24 June, a rise of more than 30% compared to the previous week.

According to most experts, the current wave will peak in a few weeks, but they warned that there will be another wave this autumn. The UK Health Security Agency believes that there will be at least one wave of Covid in the autumn- winter period.

The view was supported by a professor at the university. We need to prepare now for the autumn and winter months, when colder weather will drive people indoors, increasing the risk of infections with new Covid variant and other respiratory viruses.

The selection of the vaccines that will be best suited to counter the next wave of the disease will be a key part of these preparations. Drug companies such as Moderna, Pfizer and others are working on vaccines that target different Omicron variations.

Prof Adam Finn said that it was up to the government to decide which version was best for the country. The company that looks the most able to deliver the right number of vaccines on time is likely to be the one that officials will be influenced by the most.

The director of University College London's Genetics Institute supported this point. If you wait until the last moment, you will have the best chance of designing a vaccine that is best able to tackle the variant that is most widespread but you don't want to risk production failing to deliver enough doses in time.

There are other health threats on the horizon. Pandemic measures used to control Covid-19 are likely to have left the public vulnerable to other illnesses, according to scientists.

Finn said that they haven't been infecting each other with the flu for two years.

We are likely to see winter peaks this year due to the fact that we are now more vulnerable to flu. Flu may be a bigger problem this winter than Covid-19. We need to give the autumn Covid booster vaccine at the same time as we give the yearly flu vaccine for older people.

The cost of living crisis is one factor that could affect the nation's wellbeing this winter. It could help to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus if people are less able to spend time in crowded malls and cinemas. An inability to heat homes and an increase in the circulation of viruses will lead to more hospitalisations from the disease.

There is a need for a plan for continued vaccination in the UK that is geared towards younger age groups.

Based on the previous wave, we can expect a lot of juvenile hospitalisations and long Covid due to the high prevalence of Omicron.