West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has urged people to keep coming forward for their vaccinations to help to keep the pressure off the NHS.

The MP quizzed Health Secretary Sajid Javid on the latest statistics which show that the latest Covid-19 variant is milder and the majority of people needing serious treatment are unvaccinated.

Harriett told the House of Commons:

“Before Omicron arrived there had been over 10 million positive cases in this country of Covid-19, of which 14 in every 1,000 appeared to have been fatal. Since Omicron arrived there have been a further 5 million cases, and it looks as though the fatality rate is about 10 times lower.

“Will the Secretary of State tell the House how important the ‘Get Boosted Now’ programme has been in reducing hospitalisations and fatalities?”

Speaking afterwards, Harriett said:

“The local booster programme has been amazing, and I encourage everyone to make sure that they have the right level of protection to prevent serious illness and keep Covid sufferers out of hospitals.

“I was keen to make the point to the Health Secretary that the statistics show that the current variant has a lower hospitalisation rate and the Get Boosted Now programme will help us to ease restrictions and get back to a normal way of life.

“While I don’t support a compulsory vaccination programme, I am keen to make sure that everyone gets the message that jabs are saving lives and the offer to get your first, second or booster dose remains open.

“Official data shows that Omicron is having a much lower impact on the NHS and I am confident that as we head towards the Spring, we will be able to get back to doing the things that we love.”