THE Omicron variant has reached the UK and, although there are yet to be any confirmed cases in Sussex, people have been advised to get their Covid vaccine or booster.

Covid booster jabs should be offered to all over 18s to help stop a potential wave driven by the new variant Omicron, the UK government’s vaccine advisers say.

The advice has been given to ministers in all parts of the UK.

The gap between second dose and booster should also be reduced to three months – down from the six-month gap currently being used.

Children aged 12 to 15 should also be invited for a second dose three months after their first.

The rollout of the booster programme should be prioritised so people are offered in order of vulnerability.

The advice has been made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The Deputy Chairman of the JCVI, Professor Anthony Harnden said: “Extending the age range for boosters and reducing the gap between second and third doses was “a sensible strategy”.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House: “Adults aged 18 to 39 should expect third jabs to be offered to them earlier than we had previously envisaged”.

Scientists are still unsure if the vaccine will be less effective against the variant that originated in South Africa.

Omicron has now been detected in many countries across the world including Germany, Australia, Israel and Hong Kong.

Officials say it will take several weeks to confirm if it is more deadly than the previous Delta variants.

They have confirmed it has a large number of mutations and for this could be more transmissible.

There are walk-in-centres all over the county where you can get your vaccination or booster:

Open Every Day

• Brighton, former Top Shop store, Churchill Square, BN1 2RG, daily 8.30am to 7.00pm

• Eastbourne, Sovereign Harbour Community Centre, The Crumbles, Pevensey Bay Road BN23 6JH, Monday to Saturday 10am-3pm

Tuesday 30 November

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA

• 10.30-14.30 – Mill View Hospital, Nevill Avenue, Hove, BN3 7HY

• 09.30 – 13.30 – Brighton Racecourse, Freshfield Rd, Brighton BN2 9XZ

Wednesday 1 December

• 10.30-14.30 – St Cuthmans Church, Whitehawk Way, Brighton, BN2 5HE

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34

• 10.00-16.00 – Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, Hastings, TN34 1QR

Thursday 2 December

• 10.00-19.00 – Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, Hastings, TN34 1QR

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA

• 11.00-16.00 – Lower Place car park, Lower Place, Newhaven, BN9 9FA

Friday 3 December

• 10.30-14.30 – St Peters Church, York Place, Brighton, BN1 4GU

• 10.00-16.00 – Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, Hastings, TN34 1QR

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA

• 10.30-16.00 – Outside Asda Superstore, Battle Road St Leonards on Sea, TN37 7AA

Saturday 4 December

• 10.00-15.30 – Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, Hastings, TN34 1QR

• 10.00-16.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA

• 10.30-14.30 – Brunswick Square, Hove, BN3 1AF

Sunday 5 December

• 11.00-14.30 – Tesco Superstore, Church Road, Hove, BN3 2D

Monday 6 December

• 10.30-14.30 – Hollingdean Community Centre, Brighton BN1 7BH

Tuesday 7 December

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA

• 11.00-16.00 – Meridian Centre, Peacehaven BN10 8BB

Wednesday 8 December

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA

• 10.00-16.00 – Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, Hastings, TN34 1QR

• 11.00-15.30 – Tesco Superstore, Church Road, Hove, BN3 2DL

Thursday 9 December

• 10.00-19.00 – Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, Hastings, TN34 1QR

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA

• 11.00-16.00 – Lower Place car park, Lower Place, Newhaven, BN9 9FA

Friday 10 December

• 10.30-14.30 – St Peter's Church, York Place, Brighton, BN1 4GU

• 10.00-16.00 – Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, Hastings, TN34 1QR

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA 10.30-16.00 – Outside Asda Superstore, Battle Road, St Leonards on Sea, TN37 7AA.

Saturday 11 December

• 10.00-15.30 – Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, Hastings, TN34 1QR

• 10.00-16.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA

Monday 13 December

• 10.30-14.30 – The Whitehawk Inn, Whitehawk Road, Brighton, BN2 5NS

Tuesday 14 December

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA

• 10.30-14.30 – Mill View Hospital, Nevill Avenue, Hove, BN3 7HY

Wednesday 15 December

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA

• 10.00-16.00 – Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, Hastings, TN34 1QR

Thursday 16 December

• 10.00-19.00 – Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, Hastings, TN34 1QR

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34

• 11.00-16.00 – Lower Place car park, Lower Place, Newhaven, BN9 9FA

Friday 17 December

• 10.30-14.30 – St Peter's Church, York Place, Brighton, BN1 4GU

• 10.00-16.00 – Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, Hastings, TN34

• 09.00-18.00 – Kings Church, The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA

• 10.30-16.00 – Outside Asda Superstore, Battle Road, St Leonards on Sea, TN37 7AA