Jabs have given us a tactical advantage over Covid-19 – squandering it now would be reckless in the extreme

Now the spectre of Christmas cancelled is raised, an attempt to jolt millions out of complacency and into action. In other European countries – notably Austria, Netherlands, France, Italy and Germany – Covid-19 infections are climbing. Here in Britain, we have relied on high vaccination rates to keep hospitalisations and deaths low, even when infections have spiked. Squandering that tactical advantage over Covid-19 would be reckless in the extreme. From next week, booster jabs will be offered to eight million over-40s. Third doses cut the risk of infection by more than 80 per cent. So far the middle-aged are not coming forward in the numbers needed. While three-quarters of eligible over-70s have had their booster, just half of those in their 50s have taken up the offer.