Vallance hits back at Tory accusations of Omicron fear-mongering

Chief scientific adviser responds to criticism that Sage modelling has spread gloom' about Omicron variant

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The UK government's chief scientific adviser has hit back at accusations from Conservative MPs that epidemiological modellers had spread gloom" about the Omicron variant.

Sir Patrick Vallance said it was not the responsibility of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) to take a particular policy stance or to either spread gloom or give Panglossian optimism".