Refusing to take Covid vaccine is selfish, says Michael Gove
People who refuse to take the Covid vaccine are selfish and putting peoples’ lives at risks, according to Michael Gove.
The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster also said “some form of certification” was “the right way to go” for things like nightclubs and mass events.
More than 70 per cent of adults have received both jabs and 88 per cent of people have received one jab.
However, vaccine take-up in 18-30-year-olds has been far lower than in older age groups.
Boris Johnson is said to be furious about the low take up among younger people, according to several media reports.
Speaking at a visit to Glasgow today, Gove said: “Ultimately, if you can be vaccinated and you refuse to, that is a selfish act.
“You’re putting other people’s health and lives at risk, you should get vaccinated.”
The government also wants to introduce Covid passports for things like nightclubs and mass events from the end of October when every adult will have been offered two jabs.
Under the proposed plans there would be no option for testing for those who have not been jabbed.
This will likely include Premier League football matches and all spectator events with more than 20,000 people.
However, the government may find it hard to pass a Covid vaccine passport through parliament.
A growing group of Tory backbenchers are against the measure and Labour has indicated it will not support the government in a House of Commons vote.
Starmer said he did support vaccine certification that includes a testing option for large events.
“Passports on their own aren’t enough, because as we know sadly, you can be double-jabbed and still get the new [Covid] variant,” he told LBC.
“The idea we can go back to mass sporting events or other events without any checks is not one I subscribe to.
“I don’t want to see passports used on an everyday basis for access to critical things – like health, dentistry, food, etc.”