GMB's Dr Hilary urges people to take up Covid booster jabs or face tough winter

Dr Hilary Jones has urged people to have their Covid booster jab as he warned of a tough winter ahead.

The GP and presenter appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday morning, where he shared that approximately 4.5million people who are eligible for a Covid booster jab haven't taken theirs up yet.

Dr Hilary warned of a difficult few months if people don't get their booster vaccine, as he explained how immunity can "wain" after a period of time after the vaccine has been administered.

Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, he said: "We did so well with the initial vaccination programme. 87 per cent of people had their first jab, 80 per cent have had their second jab but with boosters, it's a different story.

Dr Hilary Jones says the uptake of the Covid booster vaccine has not been as much as the original vaccine (ITV)

"8.3million people have had their boosters including myself but 4.5million who are eligible haven't and at the current rate of roll out, we won't get there until Christmas. Now we know that immunity wains.

"We know that vaccination is the most effective way of preventing serious infection from Covid-19 - but vaccination wains."

He urged people to "get over" their "vaccine fatigue" and take the booster jab when offered.

Dr Hilary Jones told people to 'get over' their 'vaccine fatigue' (ITV)

"People need to get over this vaccine fatigue business because unless we boost the immunity with the booster, the protection can fall by as much as 50 per cent by winter unless those boosters are given," he added.

It comes after Dr Hilary said yesterday that people should be "selective" when hugging their loved ones.

After two guests debated why they liked hugging others or weren't as keen, Richard Madeley asked Dr. Hilary if people were "ok to hug each other now", but the GP said it wasn't the case.

He said: "No, unfortunately not. And Rustie Lee knows she'd be one of the first people I would hug if it was safe.

Dr Hilary Jones said there could be a tough winter ahead (ITV)

"We all love a hug, I'm a hugger - I like a warm hug as much as the next person but look right now, it's not safe to do.

"We're still in a pandemic, we had a 1000 people die in the last week, we had 7000 hospitalisations up until October 26 and 40000 cases a day. When you're hugging somebody, you are in very close proximity, you're breathing in their air."

However, he said handshaking might be ok if people continue to sanitise.

"What I'm saying, be selective with your hugging. Handshaking - if you're sanitising," he added.