that, obviously the jcvi will continue to monitor that i jcvi will continue to monitor that and weepxactly as professor powis has said we need to— exactly as professor powis has said we need to maintain— exactly as professor powis has said we need to maintain that _ exactly as professor powis has said we need to maintain that level- exactly as professor powis has said we need to maintain that level of. we need to maintain that level of vaccination — we need to maintain that level of vaccination as— we need to maintain that level of vaccination as we _ we need to maintain that level of vaccination as we go _ we need to maintain that level of vaccination as we go forward, i we need to maintain that level of| vaccination as we go forward, that is important _ vaccination as we go forward, that is important. the _ vaccination as we go forward, that is important. the second - vaccination as we go forward, that is important. the second point i vaccination as we go forward, that is important. the second point is. is important. the second point is that vaccination— is important. the second po

this is boris johnson pushing the jcvi . the job early."pushing the jcvi to the job early." this is boris - johnson pushing the jcvi to try and johnson pushing thejcvi to try and bring forward these boosterjabs and cut the time that the booster takes place from six months to five months. this means 9,000,000 more people will be able to have this, they want to encourage over �*50s get there boosterjabs as quickly as possible. the over 70 fives take—up rate is half where it should be. this is where the government focus really is on trying to push this, because they don't want another lockdown at any cost. they've got to keep an eye on the economy, rishi sunak knows he's already spent £400,000,000,000 on covid recovery programmes of various kinds — so they do not want to impose more restrictions on the economy, and they are seen very much boosterjabs as the route to preventing that. what do you make of this, what do you think this tells us the concern there may be about the winter we facing7 i there may be about the winter we facin: ? ., , .,

sr what story suggests is that there are discussions in whitehall and jcvi about cutting this wait timesterjab if that change were to happen now, and that would double the number of people who are eligible. there's a number of things to note about this — this is really set against a high rate of covid in the uk at the moment, so this would be one strategy through which to protect people and reduce the chance of even more hospitalisations at the moment. but this needs to be set in context — while the vaccine is incredibly important in the uk, there is also a global angle to this as well, and whenever we talk about this, it's really important to recognise the huge numbers of people around the world that are not vaccinated because of countries like the uk and elsewhere, like richer countries. no one is safe until everyone is safe, that's really important. but this is one part of an approach, and you'll hear a lot of talk over the past few days about the government saying they won't put in operation plan b — mbappe or two things they could be doing at the moment. one is making sure people a

been lower than may be had been hoped but i did hear quite an interesting take from a member of the jcvithe moment, if you think of the ones we're seeing from 12 to 15—year—olds, 30 doses for those who have low immune systems, so they really are trying to push people to come forward as soon as they are eligible for that booster which is around six months after your second jabs, if you are over 50, to get it booked in and get it done. let’s booked in and get it done. let's sta with booked in and get it done. let's stay with a _ booked in and get it done. let's stay with a front _ booked in and get it done. let's stay with a front page _ booked in and get it done. let's stay with a front page of- booked in and get it done. let's stay with a front page of the telegraph, sian, and plans being unveiled about what is going to happen with the queen when she attends public events. yes. happen with the queen when she attends public events.— happen with the queen when she attends public events. yes, so away from the nhs, _ attends public events. yes, so away from the nhs, this _ attends public eve

t you so at odds with what the jcvi are saying?— you so at odds with what the jcvi are saying?ry. but have lockdown is. i don't think it is necessary-— have lockdown is. i don't think it is necessary. but that is precisely the oint, is necessary. but that is precisely the point. isn't — is necessary. but that is precisely the point, isn't it? _ is necessary. but that is precisely the point, isn't it? that _ is necessary. but that is precisely the point, isn't it? that is - the point, isn't it? that is precisely what adam finn was saying. matthew taylor, chief executive of the nhs confederation, they are saying precisely that. now is the time to act, to do something. for example, face masks. if nothing else, to encourage people, officially, a government message saying we encourage people. not obligate people to wear face masks more often, encourage them. now is the time when you can actively affect the growing infection rate. so, as i have tried to say, the infection rate was always likely to go infection rate was always likely to 9° up, infection rate was always likely to go up

in regards to the eligibility and the timescale to that, obviously the jcvi have and the timescale tout i would like to reassure the house that the immunity does not fall off a cliff edge, it has waned slightly, but not completely so there is still time for people to come forward, and obviously we are encouraging people to come forward as soon as they are eligible, but they still have a huge amount of immunity over and above those who are yet to get their first jab. those who are yet to get their first 'ab. . ., those who are yet to get their first 'ab. . ~' , ., those who are yet to get their first 'ab. ., ~ i. a, ., those who are yet to get their first 'ab. ., ~ ., ,, , jab. thank you, madam deputy seaker. jab. thank you, madam deputy speaker. with _ jab. thank you, madam deputy speaker. with infection - jab. thank you, madam deputy speaker. with infection levels. speaker. with infection levels worryingly at previous lockdown levels and the government accused of having taken its foot off the pedal with nhs leaders calling for reintroduction of restrictions, the secretary of state st