Full vaccination will be a condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues with large crowds from the autumn, Boris Johnson has said.

       Despite allowing nightclubs to open up at midnight without any restrictions, the prime minister has now decided that new requirements will come into force by the end of September.

       “I should serve notice now that by the end of September, when all over-18s will have had their chance to be double-jabbed, we’re planning to make full vaccination a condition of entry into nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather,” Mr Johnson said.

       The prime minister also used his Monday press conference to suggest that mandatory Covid passports could be brought in sooner – if nightclub owners fail to ask for some form of certification voluntarily.

       “I don’t want to have to close nightclubs again,” Mr Johnson said. “Nightclubs have to do the responsible thing and use the NHS Covid pass which shows proof of vaccination or a recent negative test … We do reserve the right to mandate such certification.”

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       Vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi also told MPs in the Commons that “proof of a negative test will no longer be sufficient” to gain entry to large events from the autumn.

       “By the end of September everyone aged 18 and over will have the chance to receive full vaccination,” he said. “So at that point we plan to make full vaccination a condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather.”

       Mr Zahawi said the government would ensure that “appropriate exemptions” were made for those who have genuine medical reasons of why they can’t get vaccinated.