Over-65s without Covid booster jab could be banned from public spaces, Health Secretary suggests

Sajid Javid has suggested that people over the age of sixty-five who have not had their booster jab could be banned from public spaces in the near future.

During an appearance on Sky News yesterday the Health Secretary was asked on his thoughts on the introduction of a similar policy to France, to which he declined to rule out introducing the mandate here in the UK.

He said: “Over 10.6 million boosters, I think, throughout the UK so far already, a record number of bookings, many people coming forward.

Sky News

“I think in due course we will have to look at what constitutes vaccination. But at this point, the most important thing is that anyone that’s eligible gets out there and gets their booster.”

And, when asked whether the policy could be introduced in the UK in the near future, Javid replied: “I can’t rule that out. And I think that we know now that the vaccines do wane and it is important that those vaccines, where it’s necessary… That those people get a top-up.

“But I think it’s something that we have to keep under review.”

Javid has also defended mandatory Covid vaccines for all NHS front-line workers, which was given a deadline of April 1st 2022 earlier this week.

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In a statement to MPs, he said: “Having considered the consultation responses, the advice of my officials and NHS leaders including the chief executive of the NHS, I have concluded that all those working in the NHS and social care will have to be vaccinated.

“We must avoid preventable harm and protect patients in the NHS, protect colleagues in the NHS and, of course, protect the NHS itself.”

He also added that no unvaccinated worker should be ‘scapegoated’ and should instead be supported to make ‘a positive choice’.

As of November 1st, over 8 million people had received their booster jabs, which provides a higher level of immunity and protection to those who are elderly and/or vulnerable to Covid-19.