Covid LIVE: Major new vaccine rules TODAY – court battle looms over 'authoritarian' plan WALES is set to introduce Covid passports for cinema, theatres and concerts in a bid to combat rising case rates. By Rachel Hagan

       11:12, Mon, Nov 15, 2021 | UPDATED: 11:18, Mon, Nov 15, 2021

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       Piers Corbyn protests against vaccine passports outside Parliament

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       From today people who wish to visit the events will have to present a COVID-19 pass to enter. The move has led to fury with protests outside the Welsh Parliament, while Civil liberties campaigners Big Brother Watch said it is starting legal proceedings against the 'authoritarian and an unreasonable restriction on personal freedoms'. There are also concerns that the rest of the UK could follow suit.

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       From today people who wish to visit the events will have to present a COVID-19 pass to enter. (Image: GETTY)

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       KEY EVENTS Second jab for 16- and 17-year-olds encouraged before Christmas10:04 Booster jabs are completely safe10:00 COVID-19 press briefing commences09:50

       1 hour ago11:12 Rachel Hagan

       Johnson speaks on booster jabs

       Speaking to Sky News, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "If you look at what's happening in the in the pandemic at the moment, there are sadly people in intensive care who are who are suffering badly from from COVID, but they're all the unvaccinated. What's happening is that if you can get your booster, then your immunity goes right back up to 95 percent."

       He also said there is nothing in the data at the moment to suggest that we need to go to Plan B, so there are no Christmas lockdown fears for now.

       Mr Johnson said: "there is always a risk that a blizzard could come from the east again as the as the months get colder. The best protection for our country is for everybody to go and get that booster."

       2 hours ago10:13 Rachel Hagan

       A "bumpy" Christmas

       Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, said the country may still face "a bumpy few months ahead."

       People keep asking him about Christmas, he says. He think for Christmas and the winter period, "we can expect respiratory viruses to be around and we are particularly concerned that flu will come back and cause us problems, and it could be quite a bumpy few months ahead."

       He continued: "But everyone has a key role to play in achieving as safe and disruption free winter as possible."

       He urges people to wear face coverings in crowded places, increase indoor ventilation, make sure you are vaccinated and get your booster.

       2 hours ago10:07 Rachel Hagan

       "One dose is not enough" of any UK vaccine

       Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, says if the booster programme has "very high" uptake then we can "reduce the worry" about hospitalisation and death due to Covid at Christmas. Mr Van-Tam says it really is as simple as that.

       He also pleaded to people who have not been vaccinated or have only had one dose. He said: "It is now very clear indeed that one dose is not enough of any of the UK deployed vaccines and that no doses at all massively increases the risk of hospitalisation."

       He continued: "The latest UK health security agency data show that for the age band 18 to 29, the rate of admission to hospital with COVID-19 is 1.4 per 100,000 of double vaccinated."

       For unvaccinated that rises to "7.8 per 100,000, which is five fold higher."

       For aged 30 to 39, those similar rates are "4.1 per 100,000 for the double vaccinated and 17.3 per 100,000 for the unvaccinated, which is four times higher."

       2 hours ago10:04 Rachel Hagan

       Second jab for 16- and 17-year-olds encouraged before Christmas

       Dr June Raine of the MHRA spoke on the safety of vaccine delivery to younger people, particularly "for the winter months and Christmas."

       She reminded the public that while first vaccine dose gives a high level of protection against serious disease for at least 12 to 16 weeks, the second dose "reinforces" and "extends" that protection.

       She continued: "We’ve closely monitored the safety of Covid-19 vaccines in individuals under 18. Our review of reports of suspected side-effects does not raise any additional safety issues specific to this age group. As is set out in our summary report, there have been a small number of reports of suspected myocarditis heart inflammation associated with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in both the UK and internationally.

       This is a recognised very rare potential risk with these two vaccines. We’re closely monitoring it and importantly, now that we have more experience of use in the under-30s. In the UK, we are not detecting any increase in risk with the second dose. So our messages to people aged 16 and 17 is it’s safe to have a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. And if you’re called for your second vaccination, please come forward and this ensures that you’re further protected again."

       2 hours ago10:02 Rachel Hagan

       Booster jabs for those between 40 and 49 years old

       Prof Wei Shen Lim, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) says the booster jab programme in the UK has now been extended to people aged 40 to 49.

       He said: "Either Pfizer or Moderna can be used, regardless of the type of vaccine received for the first two doses. The gap again will be six months from the second dose of vaccine."

       2 hours ago10:00 Rachel Hagan

       Booster jabs are completely safe

       Dr June Raine says the safety of vaccines is their top priority and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency remain sure that the UK vaccines are "very effective and acceptably safe."

       With the booster programme they have found no new safety concerns with the doses that have been rolled out in people aged 50 and over.

       Ms Raine continued: "Our careful review of the data at the time of approval found that the booster doses are effective. Our ongoing safety monitoring has found the majority of adverse effects to be mild to moderate relating to reactogenicity such as a sore arm or headache or tiredness. When you’re called for your booster dose. In the next phase, you can come forward confident that the benefits in preventing serious Covid-19 far outweigh any risks."

       2 hours ago09:50 Rachel Hagan

       COVID-19 press briefing commences

       England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Dr June Raine commences their Downing Street press conference.