Newcastle: Anti-vaccination protesters march through city

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Protesters came together around 1pm on Saturday art Haymarket before marching down the city centre to the surprise of crowds of shoppers on Northumberland Street. Around 300 people demonstrated against Covid vaccine passports and jab offers for children aged 12 to 15. Footage from Newcastle shows the protesters walking down the street, holding their placards up and shouting “freedom”.

The demonstrators argued they have the right to choose whether to be inoculated or not despite scientific evidence showing a reduced risk of contracting the coronavirus and the reduced risk of death.

Boris Johnson earlier this month shelved proposals to introduce a widespread Covid passport to allow Britons to attend venue events by proving their vaccination status.

Private venues however have the right to request proof of vaccination but the use of the pass is not currently mandatory.

The NHS Covid Pass, also known as a vaccine passport, allows holders to share vaccination records or tests status when travelling abroad.

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Some of the protesters also expressed concerns about their children being jabbed.

As of this month, young Britons aged 16 and 17 are able to book the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine while children 12 to 15 will be instead offered the jab.

Parents attending the march were seen holding placards featuring messages such as ‘please don’t jab the kids.’

This week ministers have faced calls to publish the evidence they have to support mandatory Covid vaccine passports, as they remain resolute the Government will keep the scheme “in reserve”.

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At Cabinet Office questions, Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael asked: “The Government has had no fewer than 13 different positions in relation to vaccine passports: it said yes three times, no four, and maybe or we’re having a review six.”

In a question to Cabinet Office minister Nigel Adams, Mr Carmichael asked: “Rather than just asserting that the evidence is there, will he commit to publishing it? If he is ever going to take his own backbenchers with him, let alone the general public, the case will have to be made and they haven’t made it yet.

“Incidentally are we going to get a vote before they are introduced?”

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Mr Adams replied: “We have published brief summaries of the evidence in the autumn and winter plan. That is publicly available on gov.uk.

“We are keeping vaccine certification in reserve in case it is required, again, as I have said previously, to help prevent pressure on the NHS. We do hope that it will be unnecessary but the responsible thing is to prepare for all eventualities.”

More than 78 million vaccinations have been delivered, meaning nearly nine in 10 adults have had their first dose, but Prof Van-Tam used a train metaphor to illustrate why the pandemic is not over yet.

Coronavirus still poses a “considerable hazard” to the UK over the coming months, according to England’s deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam

Speaking to the Guardian, Prof Van-Tam used his signature metaphors to explain why people should not consider the pandemic over despite the success of the vaccine rollout.

Prof Van-Tam, 57, also urged the public to listen to scientists for medical advice rather than celebrities.

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