Coronavirus booster jabs for all over 40s, says Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson says following the recommendation of the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the government is making second jabs available to all 16 and 17-year-olds,from 12 weeks after their first dose. And making boosters available to all those aged 40 to 49from six months after their second dose.

Boris Johnson also urged the public to get vaccinated in order to avoid the re-introduction of Covid-19 restrictions.

The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference there were “storm clouds” gathering over parts of Europe with a “new wave” of the virus sweeping through central Europe and now affecting western Europe.

“We don’t yet know the extent to which this new wave will sweep up on our shores but history shows that we cannot afford to be complacent,” he said.

“Those countries with lower vaccination rates have tended to see bigger surges in infection and in turn been forced to respond with harsher measures while those countries with higher vaccination rates have so far fared better.

“It shows us that if we want to control the epidemic here in the UK and if we want to avoid restrictions on our daily lives we must all get vaccinated as soon as we are eligible.”