So many people have told me how angry and upset they are that while we were all loyally following Covid lockdowns and restrictions, government Ministers and officials were enjoying themselves at Christmas parties. The pandemic has been tough on all of us with restrictions placed on what we can do, businesses struggling to survive and those on the frontline working around the clock to care for people with this virus. The least we expect is that those people making the rules, follow them.

But we must not let the actions of a few ruin the hard work that we have all put in to keep our country going over the past two years. This time of year is always busy for our health service and it is so important that we take sensible steps to keep ourselves and others safe.

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The latest statistics show that nine out of 10 people who are seriously ill in hospital have not received a vaccine. We have seen thousands of people receiving booster vaccines in Watford in recent weeks and to find out more about future walk-in clinics please visit www.watford.gov.uk/clinics. For many of these you will not need an appointment or to be registered with a GP.

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone in Watford who has contributed to the local vaccination programme. Those leading this have shown real leadership and we are so grateful to you for everything you have sacrificed to keep us safe and reduce the loss of life in Watford.

  • Peter Taylor is Elected Mayor of Watford