BBC News

Preliminary estimates by researchers suggest the top-up shot should help keep many people out of hospital.

But there is still a big variation across different regions, the UK Health Security Agency says.

Charities are disappointed but regulators say there is still little evidence of the drug's benefit.

Anyone testing positive now will be self-isolating on 25 December.

St George's Hospital in London is bracing for another wave of Covid in the wake of the Omicron variant.

Omicron could peak fast but subside sooner than past strains, England's chief medical officer says.

Charities are calling for more support for patients with severely weakened immune systems.

Lara Wahab needs a life-saving transplant, but no ICU beds were available for the operation.

Nine people have died from extremely rare side effects linked to Johnson & Johnson's jab.

Ian Cottrell said he had to sit on the floor because of bed shortage with little help from staff.

The tablet - molnupiravir - is given twice a day to high-risk patients who have caught the virus.

Experts say it is vital mums-to-be get immunised to protect themselves and their unborn child.

Pubs and restaurants are not closing, the PM insists - but he and Prof Chris Whitty urge caution.

Staff warning patients being put at risk because of handover delays at hospital.

We can learn some things from what's happening in South Africa, but there are also uncertainties.

Midwives and doctors say they should be given priority because of the potential harm to women and babies.

Prof Chris Whitty says Omicron is moving at a phenomenal pace, after 78,610 people test positive in a day.

Our medical editor Fergus Walsh makes some estimates for the next 10 days.

Dr Andrew Gregg denies his actions, related to drug amounts, hastened the deaths of two patients.

A woman whose daughters were abused in a mortuary by David Fuller says "there is no more joy".

Over-18s must now prove they are double-jabbed, or have a recent negative test, to enter certain venues.

People become eligible for a booster three months after a second jab, but can book after two months.

The new limits will not apply on Christmas Day, but people have been told to keep their celebrations as small as possible.

Trials are under way of the new method of delivering the vaccine, developed by Cambridge University.

Around 70 Tory MPs are expected to vote against some new rules - but Labour will vote in favour.

Appointments for in-person PCR tests were temporarily unavailable across the whole of England earlier.

Doctors have previously described the woman as the "most complicated" Covid patient in the world.

The government is aiming to give one million jabs a day across the UK during the rest of December.

Cait didn't know why it hurt to masturbate after her treatment - and didn't know who to ask.

People should set aside the idea Omicron is a milder variant and get their booster jab, the PM says.

GPs step up plans to roll out booster jabs - one tells us she's cancelled her Christmas holiday.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney says an agreement on the protocol issue could come soon.

People explain why they're happy to wait in line for their third Covid vaccination.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid says 10 people are in hospital in England with the Omicron variant.

The health secretary is asked whether the government's measures are out of step with the risk from Omicron.

The UK is facing an Omicron emergency, says Boris Johnson, as boosters are offered to all over-18s in England.

People should now work from home if they can to help curb the spread of Omicron, the government says.

The variant accounts for a third of infections in London, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi says.

The move comes as experts say the UK faces a substantial wave of Omicron without further restrictions.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi says the variant is "much more infectious" than Delta.

The UK Health Security Agency's Dr Susan Hopkins is asked if she's worried about the Omicron variant wave.

Martin Shaw thought he would lose his hand after he severely injured it in a car crash.

More stringent restrictions may be needed to prevent coronavirus from overwhelming hospitals, scientists say.

Residents will be allowed three visitors and one care worker from Wednesday under updated guidance.

The virus is spreading so quickly everyone is "very likely" to meet someone infected, a scientist warns.

Ros Atkins examines the ethical arguments surrounding vaccine mandates.

UK scientists say two doses of a Covid vaccine are not enough to stop you catching the Omicron variant.

The updated rules are among new measures to tackle the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Reborn dolls are hyper-realistic dummies, treated like real children, given a birthing ceremony and even a heartbeat.

Some practitioners are offering underage lip fillers on social media, a BBC investigation has found.