Booster jabs are the 'best thing we can do' to avoid a difficult winter, amid surging Covid rates across Europe, an expert has claimed.
Covid cases are rocketing across the continent with rates so concerning a number of nations are re-introducing tougher restrictions despite hopes we had turned the corner on the pandemic.
Austria has announced that from Monday it will go back into a full lockdown - the first country in Western Europe to do so and Germany has indicated that it may be forced to follow suit due to soaring infection rates.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the continent is at the epicentre of the pandemic.
The UK has the highest number of Covid infections to date in Europe but despite daily infections staying above 30,000 for weeks Boris Johnson has no current plans to introduced tougher restrictions.
However he hasn't ruled out another Christmas lock down yet.
UK scientists say the best way to swerve any need to plunge the nation back into a lockdown is to push forward the vaccine programme which includes giving booster shots to double-jabbed Brits.
Britain is giving booster doses faster than the rest of Europe and have handed out twice as many doses per head as Austria, France or Germany.
A government source praised the 93% protection rate a third jab can give, telling The Times: "It's a much bigger effect than we thought.
"It absolutely underlines how crucial the booster programme is to get us through the winter.
"There's a lot of uncertainty out there but the thing we know with most certainty is that getting boosters rolled out is the best thing we can do."
Here's a breakdown of the Covid rates in the 10 worst-hit countries in Europe and what each Government is doing to tackle the spread of the virus.
UK
The UK has the worst number of total Covid infections in Europe with 9,766,153 cases of Friday.
Its infection rate stands at 417 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days.
The UK has administered at least 110,646,342 doses of Covid vaccines so far which is enough to have vaccinated around 82.8% of the country’s population.
The nation is still in "Plan A" of its Covid response with the government refusing to trigger "Plan B".
Mr Johnson said this week that he saw no need to switch to the new measures which stops short of a lockdown but brings back mask mandates, vaccine passes and work from home orders.
But he has admitted hat he was cautious of rising cases in parts of Europe.
He said: "We don't see anything in the data at the moment to suggest that we need to go to Plan B.
"We're sticking with Plan A.
"But what we certainly have got to recognise is there is a storm of infection out there in parts of Europe."
He also told his Cabinet on Tuesday that while boosters will be the main defence, “we are still not out of the woods and we cannot be complacent”.
It has also been reported that children aged five to 11 are set to be included in the Covid vaccine rollout in the coming months under leaked NHS proposals.
Austria
The average number of infections in Austria has peaked with 1,040 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days.
In total, the nation has administered 12.53 million vaccines doses which means around two-thirds of Austria's population is fully vaccinated against coronavirus -1>coronavirus - one of the lowest rates in western Europe.
On Monday it will become the first country in western Europe to reintroduce a full lockdown with non-essential shops being closed and Austrians ordered to work from home.
The restrictions will be in force until December, but will be reassessed after 10 days, authorities said.
But in addition people will be legally required to be double jabbed by February 1.
Announcing the measures, the Austrian Chancellor said: "We have not succeeded in convincing enough people to get vaccinated.
"It hurts that such measures still have to be taken."
Belgium
Belgium has recorded 655 infections per 100,00 people in the last seven days.
Belgium has administered at least 17,013,386 doses of covid vaccines so far which is enough to have vaccinated around 74.1% of the country’s population.
The Belgian Government has toughed up its restrictions this week and has made home-working mandatory four days a week.
This is said to have angered some employers and jobs groups.
People are required to wear a face mask on public transport and shops, and they must show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter all hospitality and fitness venues.
Children as young as 10 - it was previously 12 - now have to wear face coverings too.
Germany
Germany has recorded 325 infections per 100,00 people in the last seven days.
The nation has a lower vaccination rate than average in Western Europe with nearly 68% of the population double-jabbed.
German health minister Jens Spahn said his country is gripped in a "national emergency", with rising cases sparking alarm.
He said: "We are now in a situation - even if this produces a news alert - where we can't rule anything out.
"We are in a national emergency."
Under new rules only people who are double-jabbed or have recovered from the virus will be allowed to access to public spaces like sporting events, cultural shows and restaurants.
Netherlands
The Netherlands has recorded 753 infections per 100,00 people in the last seven days.
The nation has administered 24,382,465 doses of Covid does so far which means around 70.3% of the country’s population is double-jabbed.
The country returned to a partial lockdown last week with the Government ordering restaurants and shops to close early and barred spectators from major sporting events.
Supermarkets and non-essential retailers have also been told to close earlier, and social distancing measures will be re-imposed.
The government also recommended that no more than four visitors can be at one private home.
The stricter rules were sparked angry protests with police force to use water cannons to beat back crowds in Rotterdam on Friday night.
Police said seven people, including a number of officers, were injured during the unrest and there were dozens of arrests. The force said the riots had posed a "threat to life".
Authorities shut down public transportation in the city, closed the main train station and ordered people to go home.
France
France has recorded 141 infections per 100,00 people in the last seven days.
The nation has administered 101,989,127 Covid doses which means around 70.3% of the nation’s population is double-jabbed.
Despite the high vaccination rates, France is still seeing a spike in infections.
Last week, President Emmanuel Macron said: "We have not finished with the pandemic."
A Covid pass became a key requirement across France in late July.
People need to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from Covid to enter most museums and cinemas and to travel by train and plane.
The country has seen a wave of street protests since the measures were introduced.
Spain
Spain has recorded 71 infections per 100,00 people in the last seven days.
The nation has administered 74,502,145 Covid doses which means around 79.1% of the population is double-jabbed.
In Spain it is mandatory to wear a face mask in indoor spaces.
People are required to always carry a mask in case of finding themselves in a large outdoor crowd whereby 1.5m social distancing cannot be maintained.
Masks much be worn in shops, offices, restaurants and on public transport, as well as large outdoor events.
However, Carolina Darias, Minister of health announced that the restrictions will be eased "little by little".
Italy
Cases in Italy are rising and it has recorded 71 infections per 100,00 people in the last seven days.
The nation has administered 93,003,762 Covid doses which means around 77.1% of the population is double-jabbed.
This week the Government brought in a new rule that anyone using public transport must have a 'green pass' that shows they have taken a negative PCR test.
