BORIS Johnson is urging Brits to have a jabby Christmas if they have yet to be boosted or remain unvaccinated — so 2022 can be a brighter year.
In his festive message, the PM also encourages families to make up for last year’s December 25 lockdown by raising a glass with loved ones this year.
He says that the best “invisible and invaluable present” they can give will be to get a vaccine to help make next year’s celebrations even better.
The PM has confirmed no more Covid rules for England would come in before Christmas.
But he put the country on notice he might need to act as early as next week if Omicron threatened to overwhelm health services.
In a video released by No10, the PM said he hoped people would enjoy a well-deserved break “all the more keenly because of what we had to miss last year”. He went on: “I hope and believe that this Christmas is, and will be, significantly better than the last.
“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.”
But he warned those meeting up to get tested and take extra care with elderly or vulnerable loved ones.
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He urged people to get jabbed “not just for ourselves, but for friends and family and everyone we meet”.
Mr Johnson thanked hard-working NHS heroes, vaccination volunteers and carers working this Christmas.
And he offered a note of gratitude to the thousands “selflessly self-isolating to keep others safe”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer used his Christmas message to thank key workers who had “saved countless lives” this year.
He also paid tribute to the work of the Armed Forces at home and abroad.
