Over-65s without booster could be barred from trains

SAJID JAVID has said he cannot rule out the possibility that people over 65 without a booster jab could one day be barred from trains or restaurants.

In an interview with Sky News yesterday, the Health Secretary said the Government was not looking at the idea “yet”, but declined to dismiss it ever being adopted when pushed further.

A Downing Street source later said that the policy was not being actively pursued, while noting that the uncertainty of the pandemic means few potential measures can be ruled out.

Asked about France’s new Covid booster policy, which requires over-65s to have booster jabs to access hospitality venues, Mr Javid said: “We’re not looking at that yet. We are very focused on our booster programme.”

He went on to say that he “can’t rule out” boosters becoming mandatory for entry into hospitality venues.

On Tuesday, Mr Javid said that Covid jabs would become mandatory for NHS front-line staff, but that it will not take effect until April.

Yesterday, experts said NHS trusts could be open to negligence claims if patients caught Covid from health workers and suffered long-term harm.

Daniel Sokol, a clinical negligence barrister, said: “The hospital has a duty to take reasonable care of patients. That

‘The hospital has a duty to take reasonable care to prevent infection from communicable diseases’

includes taking reasonable care to prevent infection from communicable diseases such as Covid.”

The NHS has in the past been sued for negligence over the spread of infections, including MRSA and C-difficile.

Mr Sokol said cases involving Covid could be more clear cut, given patients in for planned surgery had Covid tests before admission and that the jab status of staff was recorded.