PM: ‘Boosters are key, not Plan B...’
THE Prime Minister has again resisted calls to move to Plan B for tackling Covid-19, saying booster vaccines are the “key thing” as the country enters the winter months.
On a visit to a Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland, Boris Johnson was asked whether he would heed calls from some public health officials on the need for action.
Mr Johnson said he is often presented with “different scientific advice and different scientists say different things”, adding “we study the data every day, we have reviews with NHS chiefs every day”.
He added: “The key thing you want to do is to reduce those pressures, which are building, on the A&Es, on beds, by encouraging people, particularly the over-50s, to come forward and get your booster jab.”
Earlier on, he said of his visit: “I’m here to look at what we’re doing to encourage people to get their booster jabs and that is the single most important thing that the Government can do at the present time.
“Unfortunately, what you’ve got at the moment is a situation in which the waning of the original two jabs is starting to see too many elderly people getting into hospital.
“Sadly, the jabs do wane. We’ve done 10 million booster jabs already and it’s a very effective thing.
“It’s a wonderful thing, people get 95% more protection, so I’m encouraging everybody today to go online if you’ve gone over five months, you can go online and book.”
The NHS has opened bookings for those needing a booster who are five months after their second dose so they can have a booster at the six-month point.
It comes as a leading scientist advising the Government said the UK is “a long way away” from thinking about a winter lockdown.
Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling group (Spi-M), said “we are not out of the woods yet” as he urged people to have their flu and Covid-19 booster vaccines.
Asked about the prospect of a winter lockdown, he told Sky News: “I think we’re a long way away from thinking in those terms.
“I think that, clearly, there is a situation that, if the NHS is under severe pressure, if the number of deaths sadly starts to increase, then of course, obviously, there may be discussions around whether more restrictions need to come in.
“I would hope that, with a very successful vaccination campaign, the idea of a winter lockdown is a long way away.”
Elsewhere, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has suggested Covid booster jabs will become an annual vaccination programme.
Asked about the prospect, Dr Tildesley said he agrees it may become the case that people need booster jabs every year.
He said: “It’s possible that every year we’re having to go out and get our Covid jabs in the same way a lot of people are currently getting their flu jabs.”