Newspaper headlines: 'Let it flow' and more booster jabs ordered
By BBC News
Staff
- Published
The Daily Telegraph is among those reporting on the UK's new vaccine deal with Moderna and Pfizer, which it says will be enough for two more rounds of booster jabs. It adds that the deal suggests that boosters could be offered for years to come.
The Times describes the deal as having been "rushed through". It puts the likely cost of more than 100 million doses, which can be tailored against variants of the Covid-19 virus, at £2bn.
Both papers also devote part of their front pages to reports from France that Emmanuel Macron has privately dismissed Boris Johnson as a "clown in charge of a circus" and a "knucklehead". Quoting a French satirical magazine, The Telegraph says the French president claimed to aides that Mr Johnson had admitted "creating phoney wars" against the French, because he had to "cater to his public opinion" to mask Brexit difficulties.
Using the same source, The Times says Mr Macron spoke out to a small group of advisers after the row over cross-Channel migrants. Anglo-French relations were described as "the worst since Waterloo".
A senior UK government source tells the Times "the prime minister continues to be a staunch advocate for the strength of the UK-French relationship".
The Guardian has a warning about the possible impact for patients if GPs focus on the latest Covid booster drive. It says talks are taking place to allow family doctors to halt the regular monitoring of millions of people with underlying health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
The paper says ministers and NHS England want to free up more GP time so they can increase delivery of vaccines - to counter the threat of the new variant, Omicron.
The i newspaper adds that vaccine scientists are poised to make a decision, by Christmas, on whether to give the jab to five to 11 year-olds.
The Daily Mirror follows up its story about parties at No 10 last year, which it claims breached lockdown rules at the time.
The front page mentions "booze, nibbles and party games" and above a picture of Boris Johnson is the caption "No apology. No shame".
The paper says the PM failed to deny that the events took place three times yesterday. It has spoken to relatives of Covid victims, who are described as "furious", with the prime minister's behaviour. Boris Johnson has insisted that no rules were broken.
The row at Downing Street has not stopped other papers wanting to get into the party mood.
The Daily Mail headline is a plea to ministers to "stop being Christmas killjoys".
It says the hospitality industry is angry at suggestions party-goers should consider wearing a mask and reports that office Christmas parties are already being postponed. The article includes a quote from Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey saying that there "shouldn't be much snogging under the mistletoe".
The Metro features the advice of Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who said people could enjoy festive socialising if they took a Covid test first.
Its front page declares "Let it Flow, Let it Flow, Let it Flow."