Health Secretary Sajid Javid has warned the country's progress in the Covid pandemic could be lost if people do not take up the offer of a vaccine.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, he repeated the Government’s message to the unvaccinated to have a jab, describing it as a “huge step to protect yourself and to protect your loved ones”.
Mr Javid said that if people do not get vaccinated and fail to make behavioural changes then it is more likely that restrictions will return.
He said: "Am I saying that if we don’t do our bit, get vaccinated, all those behavioural changes that we can make, that we are more likely to face restrictions as we head into winter? Then I am saying that.
“I think we’ve been really clear that we’ve all got a role to play."
He said there are things the public can do to help reduce transmission, including meeting outdoors where possible and wearing a face-covering in crowded places, and taking rapid flow tests weekly.
He added: “We need to sustain the progress that we’ve made, we could lose it.
“We really could lose that progress if people don’t take up their vaccination offers.”
NHS medical director Professor Stephen Powis said urged people to realise how “critical” a booster jab can be.
He said: “I think the important message is that the booster is not some sort of add-on.
“It’s a really critical part of maintaining immunity and if we don’t maintain that level of immunity then yes, we will see infections translate into more hospital admissions and more pressure and unfortunately more deaths.”
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
