Get your COVID booster jabs to help avoid Christmas restrictions, urges health secretary
The health secretary has urged elderly and vulnerable people to get their COVID-19 booster jabs “as soon as you can” to help avoid restrictions being imposed over Christmas.
Around 30% of people aged over 80 and 40% of over-50s in England are yet to receive a top-up jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the Department of Health.
Three million more people in England are being invited to have a booster shot next week – and Sajid Javid said he “strongly urges” everybody eligible for the jab to take up the offer.
Sajid Javid says the UK is facing a ‘challenging winter’
The health secretary said: “We know immunity begins to wane after six months, especially for the elderly and the vulnerable, and booster vaccines will top-up their protection to keep people safe over the winter.
“I strongly urge everybody who is eligible for a COVID-19 booster or flu vaccine to take up the offer as soon as you can.
“For those not yet eligible, please help your parents, grandparents or vulnerable loved ones get their jabs – it could save their life.”
Mr Javid also told anyone who is yet to have their first or second doses of the COVID vaccine, “it is not too late”.
“This truly is a national mission,” he added.
“If we all come together and play our part, we can get through this challenging winter, avoid a return to restrictions and enjoy Christmas.”
Almost 10 million people in the UK have received their top-up jabs of the COVID vaccine, which Mr Javid hailed as “a phenomenal achievement in under two months”.
Almost 10 million people in the UK have received their top-up jabs of the COVID vaccine
The boosters are currently available to those aged over 50 and those deemed most at risk from COVID-19.
Currently, people in England have to wait until six months after their second dose before they are eligible to book their booster jab.
But from Monday, they can make their appointment after five months, although they will still only be able to actually receive the booster after six months.
Mr Javid’s message comes after one of Britain’s top scientists warned the COVID crisis is a “long way from over” and the situation in the UK is “concerning”.
The comments from Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, came after Sky News revealed he had quit the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
Sir Jeremy has advocated for a “vaccine plus” strategy to curb the high levels of transmission seen in the UK,
His plan calls for more mask wearing, ventilation and continued coronavirus testing to get the nation through what some experts predict will be a difficult winter.
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The government has so far declined to take this route and has not yet adopted a COVID Plan B – tougher measures designed to curb the spread of the virus and protect the NHS.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been “clear” the data does not currently back up the need for Plan B, a government spokesperson said.
On Saturday, the UK recorded a further 155 daily COVID-related deaths and 30,693 more infections in the latest 24-hour period, according to government figures.
Counter-terrorism police are investigating after an incident involving a crossbow and a firearm left two women injured in Leeds.
Police were called to Otley Road at 2.47pm on Saturday to reports of a “serious incident involving a man seen with weapons”, West Yorkshire Police said.
Officers arrived at the scene to find two women injured – and a 38-year-old man with a self-inflicted injury. All three were taken to hospital, with the man held under arrest, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
“Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm,” Counter Terrorism Policing North East said in a statement.
The incident happened on the ‘Otley Run’ pub crawl, with one venue saying it was closed for the evening due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
Officers guard one of the crime scenes
Officers inside the cordon in Leeds
Counter Terrorism Policing’s statement added: “Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North East have taken responsibility for leading the investigation with the support of West Yorkshire Police.
“Extensive enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a “serious violent incident” and said she was being kept updated by police.
“Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response,” she said. “My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack.”
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Wrexham AFC have been promoted for the third season in a row.
The North Wales-based side has gone from the National League to the Championship in just three seasons, under its Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Wrexham were second in the table and had a run of eight games unbeaten ahead of their match against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, which they won 3-0.
Wrexham’s James McClean lifts the League One trophy. Pic: PA
Wrexham’s Dan Scarr celebrates with the fans on the pitch after Wrexham won promotion to the Championship. Pic: PA
It is the first time any club has been promoted for three consecutive seasons within the top five tiers of English football.
The third oldest association football club in the world, Wrexham AFC was bought by Reynolds and McElhenney in 2020, and has since been the subject of a Disney+ documentary, Welcome To Wrexham.
Reynolds, wearing a Wrexham sweatshirt, and McElhenney were pictured celebrating each goal, and after the game, as the fans came onto the pitch at the SToK Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground) to celebrate the victory with the players.
Wrexham co-owners Rob McElhenney (L) and Ryan Reynolds and Ryan’s wife Blake Lively, before the match. Pic: PA
Both stars came onto the pitch after the supporters returned to the stands.
Speaking to Sky Sports, McElhenney praised those behind the scenes, referring to “so many that don’t get the credit they deserve, people who aren’t talked about”.
Reynolds said bringing success back to the club “seemed like an impossible dream” when they arrived in North Wales in 2020.
Wrexham’s Sam Smith celebrates in front of the fans after Wrexham won promotion to the Championship. Pic: PA
He put the three promotions down to “the coaching staff, the greatest dressing room” and an “all for one, one for all” attitude throughout the club, adding he was “speechless with their commitment and their emotion”.
As for the mouth-watering prospect of another promotion to the promised land of the Premier League, the pair agreed it was “for tomorrow”, before ending the interview with a joint mic-drop.
Veteran striker Steven Fletcher said, “as soon as I came to this club, I knew it was something special. We want to go again. We’ll reset in the summer, take a break and go again”.
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