Boris Johnson Urges People To Gift One Another By Getting Vaccinated
2 min read
Boris Johnson has urged the public to get their booster jab in his Christmas message, describing it as an "invisible and invaluable present" for everyone in the country.
Speaking on Christmas Eve, the Prime Minister said that getting a third dose of the Covid vaccine would not just benefit the individual, but "friends and family and everyone we meet," and help ensure that "next year's festivities are even better than this year’s".
Over 30 million people in the UK have received their booster jab.
"Though the time for buying presents is theoretically running out, there is still a wonderful thing you can give your family and the whole country, and that is to get that jab, whether it is your first or second, or your booster, so that next year’s festivities are even better than this year’s," Johnson said.
He paid tribute to the "immense spirit of neighbourliness" shown by the vast majority of the public who have been vaccinated, and urged people to receive a third dose for the benefit of those around them.
"And that, after all, is the teaching of Jesus Christ, whose birth is at the heart of this enormous festival — that we should love our neighbours as we love ourselves," the Prime Minister said.
"Let’s think of all those who are being good neighbours and thinking of others."
The Prime Minister, who will decide in the coming days whether to introduce more Covid restrictions in response to the Omicron variant, stressed that the pandemic was far from over, and urged people to regularly test and "take extra care" this Christmas.
On Thursday a record 119,789 Covid cases were registered in the UK, a 53% increase in the last seven days. 147 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test were also reported.
Johnson thanked NHS staff, care workers and those involved in the vaccine rollout, as well as the "many thousands of people who are selflessly self-isolating to keep others safe from Covid".
He added: "For millions of families up and down the country, I hope and believe that this Christmas is, and will be, significantly better than the last, in this vital respect.
"That we can celebrate together with those we love and raise our glasses to those who can’t be with us.
"And if this year you need a bigger turkey and there are more sprouts to peel and more washing up to do, then that is all to the good, because these rituals matter so deeply.
"I hope that people will enjoy this Christmas this year all the more keenly because of what we had to miss last year."
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