AN EXPERT on Covid-19 has said 'the worst of the pandemic is 'behind us'.

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, offered a message of hope to the public, as he reflected a year after the first member of the public was given the AstraZeneca jab.

He is now calling on society to 'open up', despite the threat of the Omicron variant.

Prof Pollard explained: “The worst is absolutely behind us. 

"We just need to get through the winter.

"At some point, society has to open up. When we do open, there will be a period with a bump in infections, which is why winter is probably not the best time. But that’s a decision for the policymakers, not the scientists."

He added, however, that more needs to be done to help vaccinate the whole of the world, particularly those in poorer countries.

He told Sky News that it would not be 'affordable, sustainable or deliverable' to give regular jabs every six months to cope with waning immunity and the rise of new variants.

He said: “Remember that, today, less than 10% of people in low-income countries have even had their first dose, so the whole idea of regular fourth doses globally is just not sensible."

Sir Pollard said it may be that future boosters could be targeted at the most vulnerable and it is too early to say whether updated vaccines will be required every year, as with flu.

Tonight, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to hold a press conference to give an update on the latest Covid-19 data.