Double vaccination exemption will require booster update, health secretary confirms

Sajid Javid has confirmed the exemption for vaccinated members of the public will change to require a booster dose.

The health secretary told the House of Commons: “Once all adults have had a reasonable chance to get their booster jab, we intend to change this exemption to require a booster dose.”

Javid did not specify the timeframe related to a “reasonable chance”, but it is expected the change in status will occur sometime in February.

The government is already braced for a huge Tory rebellion over the introduction of further Covid restrictions, with as many as 79 Conservative MPs expected to vote against the new measures on Tuesday.