Winter flu is big risk
Mass flu vaccinations in the biggest inoculation drive in history will save lives – and potentially the NHS – should a lethal second wave of Covid-19 hit these shores.
Winter may feel a long way off but preparing now for millions of doses is vital as a bombshell report warns of up to 120,000 coronavirus deaths – double the current toll.
Vaccinating against the flu protects us from that illness, meaning fewer end up in hospital beds, and enables us to be fitter and stronger to fight off the virus.
Extending vaccinations to everyone over 50, as proposed by Labour leader Keir Starmer, is a precaution the Government should embrace.
Nothing must be left to chance.
The pandemic is a pivotal moment in history and how we respond, individually and collectively, is crucial.
The Government must urge, cajole and persuade specified age groups to go for a jab and it is our duty to turn up.
It could be a matter of life or death.
Heroes halted
Blocking care workers from coming to Britain would be a self-defeating disaster – effectively banning lifesaving heroes.
Home Secretary Priti Patel’s immigration rules are reckless political posturing which shamefully ignore the country’s best interests.
When the goal is surely to construct a system that works effectively, locking workers out of vital jobs in a sector with thousands of existing unfilled vacancies makes no sense.
We know this isn’t about raising wages or the Tories would abandon their obsession with pay-cutting deregulation and drop ingrained hostility towards trade unions.
Cash bashed
Gone are the days when cash was king.
But it’s a sad day when security firm G4S is slashing up to 1,150 jobs because using notes and coins is another victim of the coronavirus.
Hunting down the back of the sofa for a contactless card or digital payment details will never be as exciting as finding a lost 50p or £1.
