Change to ‘fully vaccinated’ status by January? Javid says booster jabs will be needed for Covid passes once Brits have had a ‘reasonable chance’ to get them – as new laws reveal £10,000 fine for faking proof to get into nightclubs or events
- Sajid Javid told the Commons that boosters will be needed for ‘fully-vaccinated’
- Health Secretary said status will change after ‘reasonable chance’ to get jabs
- New coroanvirus laws include a £10,000 fine for faking pass to get into events
Sajid Javid tonight warned that booster jabs will soon be required to be counted as ‘fully vaccinated’.
The Health Secretary told the Commons that the government intends to change the definition as soon as all adults have had a ‘reasonable change’ to get a booster.
The comment came after Boris Johnson’s bid to ramp up the rollout risked descending into shambles, with booking websites crashing and huge queues at walk-in centres.
Mr Javid ran the gauntlet of Tory anger at the new ‘Plan B’ restrictions to tackle the Omicron variant in the Commons this evening. More than 70 MPs are threatening to rebel in crunch votes on the plans tomorrow.
He pointed out that the incoming rules on Covid passes meant that from Wednesday people will need to show a negative lateral flow test to go to nightclubs or large events.
Mr Javid said that those who are double-jabbed will be exempt – but added: ‘Once all adults have had a reasonable chance to get their booster jabs we intend to change this exemption to require a booster dose.’
The Cabinet minister significantly refused to give an exact timeline, amid criticism that the government is not being clear about whether all adults will get dates for jabs that fall before January 1 – or whether the bookings will be merely made before New Year’s Day.
Sajid Javid told the Commons that the government intends to change the definition as soon as all adults have had a ‘reasonable change’ to get a booster
Pictured above is the current pace of the booster programme (green bars) and how it will have to ramp up to hit the million jabs a day target (red bars). NHS bosses warn scaling up the programme will be ‘incredibly difficult’
The UK Covid alert level was raised from level 3 to level 4 after the UK reported another 1,239 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant
Meanwhile, the new regulations bringing in ‘Plan B’ measures have finally been published – barely 24 hours before the votes are due.
People could be fined £10,000 if they try to falsify a Covid pass or test result.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Entry to Venues and Events) (England) Regulations 2021 make it an offence to make, adapt, supply or offer to supply ‘false evidence of Covid status to another person’ which is known to be ‘false or misleading’ and this will be punishable by a fixed penalty notice (FPN).
Other offences under the regulations also could result in fines for breaking the rules. These include a £1,000 FPN in the first instance, reduced to £500 if paid within 14 days, for example for venues who do not comply with the rules or ignore improvement notices issued by councils.
The fines double for the second and third offences (£2,000 and then £4,000), jumping to £10,000 for the fourth or any subsequent offences thereafter.
Mr Johnson begged Tories to back his ‘Plan B’ Covid curbs today amid fears more than 70 will rebel in a crunch vote tomorrow.
The PM warned Omicron is a ‘serious risk to public health’ and confirmed the first death from the variant as he desperately tries to quell the uprising on his own benches.
Government whips are said to be ‘getting the thumbscrews out’ in a bid to cut the number of mutineers – which looks set to be the biggest he has suffered so far.
Mr Johnson (pictured visiting a vaccination centre in London today) begged Tories to back his ‘Plan B’ Covid curbs today amid fears more than 70 will rebel in a crunch vote tomorrow
But ringleaders believe the revolt is still ‘growing’, with claims that half-a-dozen ministerial aides are considering resigning rather than backing the new restrictions.
One MP told MailOnline that unless the government finds a way of whittling opponents down it could be bigger than the 81-strong Conservative rebellion that forced David Cameron to pledge an EU membership referendum.
And backbencher Marcus Fysh launched an extraordinary attack on the idea of Covid passes to get into nightclubs and events – the main focus of opposition in the showdown.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live that the UK is ‘not a ‘papers please’ society’.
‘This is not Nazi Germany,’ he said. ‘It’s the thin end of an authoritarian wedge.’
Health Secretary Sajid Javid risked inflaming the situation further this morning by warning in a round of interviews that the government might have to go even further, refusing to rule out closing schools again.
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