Handful of vaccine sceptics hold protest in Beckenham

Demonstrators displayed banners with the messages “say no to medical passports” and “this ends when we say no”.

Plans to introduce UK vaccine passports, which would require proof of vaccination status or a recent negative test for access into nightclubs and large events, were abandoned last month.

The government stressed the measure would however be kept "in reserve" should it be needed over autumn or winter.

Protestors encouraged reporting of vaccine side effects (Tim Gluckman)

Protestors also advertised links to websites where people can report adverse reactions to coronavirus vaccines, such as the Yellow Card scheme.

The government scheme relies on voluntary reporting of suspected side by health professionals and the public, including patients, carers, and parents.

Covid infection levels in England are currently rising to close the peak seen at the height of the second wave, mostly being driven by rates among schoolchildren.

Estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that around one in 10 schoolchildren in Years 7 to 11 in England was estimated to have Covid last week – the highest positivity rate for any age group.

Analysis by PHE shows that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96 per cent effective against hospitalisation by the predominant Delta variant after 2 doses.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 92 per cent effective against hospitalisation after 2 doses. 

The most common side effects of the Covid vaccines are pain or tenderness at the injection site, in other words, a sore arm, according to a UK study. 

Roughly one in four people had wider effects like fever, headache, nausea and fatigue, which lasted just a day.

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