BRITS were last night urged to get their Covid booster jabs as soon as possible to save Christmas.
Daily infections have now been above 40,000 for seven days in a row, with 43,738 recorded yesterday.
There were also 223 Covid-related deaths recorded yesterday — the highest since March.
But around 1.5million people who are eligible for a third jab have still not had it. And the UK’s stuttering vaccine rollout means we are slipping down the European league table.
Scientists also warned a new sub-variant of the Delta strain, named AY.4.2, is gaining a foothold and could be 15 per cent more infectious.
Experts fear cases and hospital admissions could surge in older people this winter as protection wears off from the vaccines they had six months ago.
And if death rates rise the Government could come under pressure to introduce lockdown-style restrictions before Christmas.
Downing Street has already admitted there is a challenging winter ahead.
PM Boris Johnson’s Plan B could see the return of face coverings, work-from-home orders and vaccine passports for some events.
But giving booster jabs to the elderly and most vulnerable could instead help protect the NHS from being overwhelmed as it was last December.
Last night Health Secretary Sajid Javid backed Trending In The News’s campaign to get booster jabs into millions of arms before the end of the year.
He said: “I’m delighted that the Sun has launched this hugely important campaign to encourage more people to come forward for their booster when invited.
“As we approach winter, we’ll need to draw on this spirit once again, to help keep our country safe.
