The European Union health agency has called on member states to “urgently” introduce measures to reduce the potentially “very high burden” from Covid-19 in December and January.

The director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Andrea Ammon, recommended Covid booster shots for all adults over the age of 18, “with a priority for people above 40 years old”.

The agency also urged countries to increase their overall vaccination rates, especially those with low uptake.

Under 70 per cent of the overall population in the EU and the European Economic Area (Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland) have been fully vaccinated, according to AFP.