Javid: Public can expect a normal Christmas

PEOPLE can expect Christmas to be “normal”, the UK’s Health Secretary has said, as he urged people to have their Covid-19 vaccines.

Sajid Javid said no “sensible health secretary across the world would want to predict exactly where we’re going to be in three months’ time, or six months’ time”, pointing to the continued risk from new variants.

But he told BBC Breakfast: “For all those people like me that are hoping and planning for a normal Christmas – which I do, by the way – I think that’s where we’ll be, we’ll have a normal Christmas, if we want, let’s just keep playing our part.”

Mr Javid said he agreed with the Prime Minister that people can expect a better Christmas than last year, when lockdown restrictions were in place.

Asked on LBC radio whether he thought Christmas was “safe”, the Cabinet Minister added: “I think it is, as long as we do what we all need to do – everyone’s got a role to play in this. We all want a fantastic Christmas and we can ensure that by getting out there and getting our vaccines.

“There are still some five million people out there that haven’t had a single dose of the vaccine and we need to basically tell them they need to do that, not just to protect themselves but to protect their loved ones, to do their bit, but also there’s other sensible behaviours that we can all have over the next few months.

“It’s getting darker, we can see it’s getting colder, we will spend more time indoors, and so we should think about hand hygiene, about getting tested regularly, especially if you’re going to meet your more vulnerable... perhaps an elderly relative or someone... so if we can do all that, I’m sure that we’re going to have a great Christmas.”

Several leading scientists, including Professor Adam Finn from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), believe stricter measures are needed.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has said if Plan B measures are brought in, they should be implemented in unison, with working from home having the biggest impact on Covid cases.

Mr Javid said: “We don’t think we have reached the point where Plan B needs to be activated, but, of course, we will keep it under review.”

The Government is keen for people to book booster jabs, with at least 6.1 million doses now given across the UK.

People who are eligible for boosters must wait six months after their second dose of a vaccine after JCVI experts said this was the “sweet spot” for maximum protection.