Boris Johnson urges people to get vaccine on West Yorkshire visit

Boris Johnson was visiting Fox’s Biscuits factory on the Batley and Spen by-election campaign trail supporting Conservative candidate Ryan Stephenson.

In Bradford, vaccination rates are still trailing behind the national average with some hard-to-reach communities still hesitant about getting the vaccine, and a minority of people being opposed to the vaccination programme.

Earlier this week Mr Johnson also confirmed that Step 4 of the roadmap out of lockdown would be delayed by four weeks from June 21 to July 19 due to rising cases of Covid-19, and he said that was to “be careful” and “get a few more million jabs into people’s arms”.

Mr Johnson said: “I’m going to join Ryan Stephenson in thanking everyone who has been vaccinated so far.

“Fox’s Biscuits factory was a vaccination centre until very recently and they did an amazing job, but there is still a way to go and it is urgent.

“What I would say to everybody is come forward and get your jab. 18-year-olds can now get their first jab, it’s the way to protect not only you but your family and everybody else.”

Concerns about the need for the vaccine were also raised to Mr Johnson, who added: “This virus has killed tens of thousands of people in the UK and millions across the world, it is a lethal disease.

“I’m sure everyone would rather their elderly relatives vaccinated against it than capable of catching it, and so the reason for getting vaccinated is that we will literally save tens if not hundreds of thousands of lives.

Boris Johnson helps on the production line at Fox's Biscuits in Batley

“If you think you are vulnerable yourself or not, by getting vaccinated you will protect yourself and those around you.

“The vaccine has been tested rigorously, the MHRA is extremely scrupulous and I would encourage everyone to get their jabs, I’ve had both of mine.”

On when face masks can be scrapped, Mr Johnson said he wants them gone “as soon as is practical”.

“After the end of the roadmap I think we will be looking to get rid of all the things we currently ask people to do, but in practice some people may want to continue to wear face masks in certain contexts, as they do in the Far East.

“What I think everybody should continue to do whatever we do is to be very careful about washing their hands and to follow the guidance.

“We have to recognise the decision to open up completely could lead to many thousands of deaths so you have to be careful about how you do it, which is why we’ve taken the decision to wait a few weeks and get a few more million jabs into people’s arms.”