COVID-19: Young people told to get jabbed or 'miss out on the good times' as vaccine take up slows

Young people are being told not to "miss out on the good times" by getting both of their COVID-19 jabs in the latest government move to drive up vaccination rates.

The major advertising campaign on billboards and social media will focus on the freedoms that vaccinations allow - from nightclubbing to foreign travel.

It comes as clubs are set to encourage young people to get a COVID-19 jab, with one being used as a vaccine centre.

Leading figures at venues including the Ministry of Sound have joined the government's national effort by promoting the messages, while London-based club Heaven is hosting a pop-up vaccination centre on 8 August.

Vaccine passports are set to be introduced for nightclubs and other crowded venues in the autumn.

Over two-thirds of young adults aged 18 to 29 have received one dose of the vaccine, but there is concern within Downing Street that take-up is dropping off. Yesterday 33,334 people had their first vaccination, a dramatic drop compared to figures in June.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Vaccines are saving lives, protecting people, and allowing us to regain some of the freedoms we've missed over the last 18 months - from visiting family abroad to dancing on a night out.

"It's remarkable to see different sectors and industries step up to help get the country vaccinated, and my thanks goes to the Ministry of Sound, Heaven, and Bodalia, among so many others."

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Lohan Presencer, executive chairman of Ministry of Sound, said: "It's incredible to welcome people back onto our dance floor after so long. We'll provide the music and the good times, people just need to get both their vaccines so we can all keep dancing together safely."

A total of more than 85 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered in the UK, with 46.9 million people receiving a first dose (88.7%) and 38.7 million people receiving two doses (73.2%).

On Thursday, Transport Minister Grant Shapps said that he sees vaccines passports becoming a permanent part of international travel.

Speaking to ITV News, he said: "I do see this becoming a permanent, for the foreseeable future, fixture of international travel.

"I've chaired meetings with my transport equivalents [in other countries], when I speak to them it's quite clear that double vaccination will be a requirement, we're already seeing it in virtually every country in the world."