BORIS Johnson today declared getting the Covid booster jab "absolutely crucial" to protect against the Omicron variant.

Speaking in a new virus video, the PM said the UK's rapid roll-out of the third shot was making a "big difference" as he urged those who have not yet had it to "get boosted now".

Mr Johnson said it was the best way to "avoid serious illness" and tackle the swift spread.

A string of hugely positive studies show Omicron IS milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.

Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.

The Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits' arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.

In the short clip, shared on Twitter, a masked Mr Johnson said: "I'm very, very happy to be here at this vaccination centre at the Open University in Milton Keynes where the volunteers, the teams, the pharmacists are doing an incredible job of putting yet more jabs into people's arms, particularly booster jabs.

"It's as a result of the efforts of people like the teams here today that we've now boosted more than 32.6million people in this country.

"That's making a big, big difference.

"If you want to protect yourself, to avoid serious illness, getting the booster is absolutely crucial. Get boosted now."

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It follows his comments earlier today when he said Britain's monumental vaccination programme had saved New Year's Eve.

The PM – speaking for the first time since the Christmas break – insisted the UK's soaring jab numbers are the reason England can afford to be rule-free, but the booster is needed to "finish the work".

He also warned that up to 90 per cent of people in intensive care with Covid are unjabbed or without a booster.

His call to arms echoed that of the Health Secretary, who on Monday announced no legally-binding lockdown measures will be enforced before January 1.

But Sajid Javid stressed Brits should "remain cautious", take a lateral flow and celebrate outside or in a well-ventilated room – as he urged everyone to get their jabs if they can to avoid a spike in hospitalisations.

Record numbers of Brits have tested positive for Covid over Christmas, but experts reckon Omicron's grip on London may have already peaked.

Analysis of infections in the week before December 25 shows the rise has finally started to flatten off.

'GET BOOSTED NOW'

There are hopes this may soon be the case for the rest of the country so England can avoid being slapped with new restrictions like Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It all hinges on four key figures – vaccines, the severity of Omicron, the speed of the spread, and hospitalisations.

But while England may have evaded a December 31 lockdown, hundreds of thousands of Brits who missed Christmas due to Covid could also have their New Year's Eve plans ruined – despite isolation being cut from 10 to seven days.

A global lateral flow test shortage may mean hundreds of thousands of people who tested positive for the virus before December 25 are still stuck indoors for the second big celebration.

The at-home testing supply issues have had a knock-on effect on PCR testing, with wannabe NYE revellers struggling to get their hands on kits and appointments.

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