PUNTERS should be offered free drinks or discounts at pubs and shops for proving they’ve had the Covid vaccine, it has been suggested.

Colchester councillor Mike Lilley says a discount scheme could help encourage vaccine take up whilst also helping visitors to the town centre feel sale.

Mr Lilley said: “I can’t take the credit as the idea was suggested to me by a resident.

“I think it would be a really forward thinking scheme and we could be one of the first places to do it.

“It is similar to what we did with the parking discount scheme where you get money off your parking when shopping at certain places.

“The discounts offered would be down to the venues themselves.

“It would offer an incentive for people to get jabbed and should work really well.”

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Mr Lilley would also like to see the idea of vaccine certification, or vaccine passports, cover town centre venues, with businesses only letting those who’ve had vaccinations enter, similar to the Government’s plans for nightclubs.

From the end of September, vaccine passports are set to be introduced for nightclubs and other crowded venues.

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Mr Lilley said: “If everyone sticks to the same criteria it will mean people can come out feeling confident and safe.

“At the moment it can be worrying for some residents not knowing whether everyone has had their vaccine.

“It will make people feel more confident going out to pubs, nightclubs and shops.”

He has contacted Colchester Pub Watch, which are set to discuss the ideas at its next meeting.

“I am quite hopeful the Pubwatch people will take this idea forward,” Mr Lilley said.

“We could also have the vaccination bus in the High Street at night and people could get their jabs whilst out.

"It could be done easily enough and it wouldn’t cost much at all.”

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Rules changes from today mean those who are double jabbed will no longer have to self-isolate if they are pinged by the NHS app.

The rule change applies to adults who have had both jabs at least 14 days before the contact, and to under 18-year-olds.

Essex’s Director of Public Health Mike Gogarty has urged residents to get vaccinated.

He said: “The vaccine is the best defence against Covid-19 and is helping us to get back to the things we love.

"Now there’s another good reason to take it - if you get vaccinated you won’t have to isolate.

“The vaccine is safe and effective: it massively reduces your risk of illness or death.

“But you could still have caught Covid-19 and be infectious without knowing.

"If you are a contact, to keep Covid in check, observe social distancing wherever you can, keep washing your hands, and cover your face.”

“You may wish to think twice about meeting vulnerable people if you know you are a contact of a case.”