PRIME Minister Boris Johnson is expected to be holding a Covid press briefing later today where he will reveal new plans to tackle Covid – here’s four things he is expected to say.

The briefing is set to be held at 4pm today, where the PM will be joined by chief medical advisor Sir Patrick Vallance and Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty.

It comes as the Government have expressed that they will set out their blueprint for living with the virus during the winter months.

Booster vaccines

The main thing Boris Johnson is expected to talk about in todays briefing is Coronavirus booster jabs that will be given to people over the age of 50 at the same time as flu jabs.

Read more: Three regional spots named in top 10 hidden gems in UK’s national parks

Dr June Raine, chief executive of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulator Agency told a Downing Street Briefing: “The data reviewed showed that giving the booster jabs with flu vaccines at the same time is safe and does not affect an individual’s immune response to either vaccine.

“Therefore, Covid-19 booster doses may be given at the same time as flu vaccines.

“We have in place a comprehensive safety strategy for monitoring the safety of all Covid-19 vaccines, and this surveillance includes the booster jabs.

“As with first and second doses, if anyone has any suspected side effects, please report using Yellow Card.”

She added that the Moderna, Pfizer, and Astra-Zeneca vaccine can be safely used as booster jabs.

All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group for Covid, will also be eligible for ta jab.

Further lockdowns

Another aspect that the Prime Minister might touch on in the briefing is the possibility of further lockdowns.

However, vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi said further lockdowns will be an “absolutely last resort” under the new plan.

He said that although “inter gives the virus an inbuilt advantage”, he is “confident that we have the infrastructure in place to deliver on this”.

Read more: WEATHER WARNING: Rain to batter North East and North Yorkshire say Met Office

He told sky news: “We’re about to embark on a massive booster campaign and of course a flu vaccination programme – I am concerned about flu, we haven’t had much flu circulating anywhere in the world, and in a bad year we could lose up to 25,000 people to flu.”

Flu and Covid

England’s deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam warned of a “bumpy” winter as he set out the findings of the review of Covid-19.

He also spoke of a vaccine which combines protection against flu and Coronavirus, which could be developed in the future.

It is likely that the Prime Minister will touch on this in the press briefing and set out a plan to deal with both the Flu and Covid-19 this winter.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said: “One day I guess it’s possible that the developers will come up with bivalent vaccines – in other words, flu and Covid in the same jab.

“It’s really not beyond the bounds of scientific possibility when you consider just how amazing a job it has been to get to where we have got to in such a short time.

“So that’s always a possibility for the future.”

Children over 12 eligible for Covid jabs from next week

The Prime Minister will most likely touch on the news that Children in England over 12 years-old will be able to get their first Covid-19 vaccination from next week.

Health leaders approved first doses of Pfizer vaccine for over-12s on Monday.

However, Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said he would not feel comfortable with a 12 year-old getting a jab if their parent had not consented.

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said children will only be able to have a vaccination against their parents wishes following a meeting with a clinician.

It came as a leaflet for youngsters considering vaccination was published on the PHE section of the Government website.

On consent, the document says: “You will probably want to share information about the vaccine with your parents and discuss it together.

Read more: Top 10 restaurants in Whitby according to TripAdvisor – have you been to any?

“If you are being offered the vaccination at school, you may be given a consent form that your parent/guardian should sign giving permission for you to have the vaccination.

“The nurse or GP will discuss the Covid-19 vaccine with you at your appointment and will be able to answer any questions you may have.”

-------

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated North Yorkshire Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054