Brits up and down the country received a text from the government urging them to get a booster Covid vaccine - but it’s the tone of the text that has got people talking.
Prime minister Boris Johnson is not expected to announce further restrictions today (December 27) after meeting with England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty and the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance to look at the Christmas Covid data.
Though with the spread of the Omicron variant, the government remain keen for people to get their booster vaccine as soon as possible and so texted out a reminder to book an appointment.
Got a text about a booster jab?
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) December 26, 2021
Millions of vaccine slots are available over the festive period so whether it's between turkey sandwiches, or after a Boxing day walk, take up the offer & #GetBoostedNowhttps://t.co/r5PR5JSyle
Well, that message was received loud and clear as the text opened with “GET BOOSTED NOW” in capital letters, while the rest read: “Every adult needs a COVID-19 booster vaccine to protect against Omicron. Get your COVID-19 vaccine or booster. See NHS website for details.”
In partnership with UK phone networks, the UK Government sent out the text message and the health secretary, Sajid Javid said:
“We are texting this Boxing Day for all eligible adults to Get Boosted Now.
“It has never been as important to get protected with the booster – so whether it is in between turkey sandwiches or before the Boxing Day fixtures, whatever your traditions make the booster a part of them this year.
“Millions of vaccine slots are available through the festive calendar so if you’re not boosted and you get this text, take up the offer and get vaccinated,” he said.
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It seems people were taken aback by the tone of the Boxing Day text and shared their hilarious reactions to the shouty message they received.
“GET BOOSTED NOW” First of all lower your tone we ain’t mates
— 𝕾𝖆𝖎𝖓𝖙 jaquan. (@jaquannotjason) December 26, 2021
“GET BOOSTED NOW” pic.twitter.com/UBbHWgXXQZ
— ᴊᴏʀᴅꜱʏ❁ (@jordsss_s) December 26, 2021
Nobody:
— AM!R (@A_mir99) December 27, 2021
NHS texts: GET BOOSTED NOW pic.twitter.com/ypj1kkLzbH
Um. That NHS text I received earlier was very rude by British standards... I was clutching my Union Jack pearls 😂
— Ash (@ashindestad) December 26, 2021
NHS booster text: GET BOOSTED NOW
— Callum Stuttard (@CalStutts_) December 27, 2021
Me: pic.twitter.com/ltSNTJfI1p
‘GET BOOSTED NOW’ pic.twitter.com/Vou1WjyGu1
— Shan 🇬🇩 (@IGoBySJ) December 26, 2021
GET BOOSTED NOW pic.twitter.com/CnVLYzV37C
— Jack (@jtuckerx) December 27, 2021
Who got their shouty “GET BOOSTED NOW” text?
— Sir Proper F*cking Hacked Off QC (@FunTimeFred1) December 26, 2021
Great to see its utterly indiscriminate and blind to peoples jab history, risk profile or need 😂
“GET BOOSTED NOW”
— Richard (@Scotsrick) December 26, 2021
Quite honestly I’d rather have a Mars Bar. pic.twitter.com/uyym71AfPY
GET BOOSTED NOW https://t.co/ktZuIs3195 pic.twitter.com/fhvbYJtbbD
— EB (@EB_online_) December 26, 2021
For the people having a tantrum about the GET BOOSTED NOW TEXT pic.twitter.com/DjScq1gNnd
— Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) December 26, 2021
“GET BOOSTED NOW” first of all why are you shouting at me?
— SJ♡ (@8SJNK) December 27, 2021
That NHS text message was so aggressive. “GET BOOSTED NOW” first of all, stop shouting at me. pic.twitter.com/QRQ7iFTRdb
— Becky (@milkbubbletea) December 27, 2021
Me to the NHS messages saying ‘GET BOOSTED NOW’ even though I had it last week pic.twitter.com/ZeceFB0bYF
— Jack💗 (@jacklloyd_01) December 27, 2021
The NHS sending that “GET BOOSTED NOW” text pic.twitter.com/nDVa99IW5D
— Nara 火 (@itis_Gb) December 27, 2021
My phone: GET BOOSTED NOW!
— GingerbreadRose (@SporeRose) December 27, 2021
Me: pic.twitter.com/nMKdCG1wYS
GET BOOSTED NOW
— Rhys Callow (@Rhys_callow) December 27, 2021
Firstly, who tf you think you’re talking to in that tone? pic.twitter.com/Pjta0ohrf7
The NHS sending me
— Fatima Said (@fatimazsaid) December 26, 2021
text reminders every me
5 second to
GET BOOSTED NOW pic.twitter.com/LEOEHgpwu1
GET BOOSTED NOW
— Potter (@dontforgetjames) December 27, 2021
Umm excuse me. pic.twitter.com/2WDgqYWCFN
GET BOOSTED NOW pic.twitter.com/MA0fEU90hd
— Kate Hathaway (@HatherzJr) December 27, 2021
The person sending all the GET BOOSTED NOW texts pic.twitter.com/Jsj43JyWgg
— Kate (@KateThornley3) December 27, 2021
why does the GET BOOSTED NOW text feel like that unsolicited U2 album
— nathan creedy (@Creedy__) December 27, 2021
Some people who had already had the booster were left confused when they received the text.
Anyone else received an NHS Booster text despite having had it already done?
— Kevin Tosh (@KevinTosh14) December 26, 2021
I have. Already triple jabbed and flu jabbed 😔 https://t.co/hv3tHjhDtE
— George (OX20 Yellow) (@GeorgeHogg93) December 27, 2021
Yes I did yesterday, but had the booster weeks ago. https://t.co/sTFTwEeBas
— Bob Jamieson 💙💙💙🏴🇪🇺 (@bobjmsn) December 27, 2021
Yes - today. I was boosted at the end of November. https://t.co/g1ivdmMU4W
— Janet Hale 💙 (@pilkingtonhale) December 26, 2021
But others highlighted the fact people who have had their booster got the text because the government can’t hand over sensitive personal data like vaccination records to mobile networks.
In a statement on the government website, it read: “HMG would like to thank the Mobile Network Operators for their assistance in helping deliver the vitally important Get Boosted Now message.”
A universal booster broadcast is obviously necessary and a good thing. Texting only the unvaccinated would require handing over private NHS medical data to whatever service provider was contracted to send out the texts https://t.co/STk2ufcE6M
— Jason Okundaye (@jasebyjason) December 27, 2021
It was sent by the networks, not the government. The phone networks don’t have access to your health records or an NHS API, quite rightly. https://t.co/hLeW4oS06q
— Merry Trishmas (@Trishie_D) December 27, 2021
LMAO at people who think it is the NHS that is sending them the "GET BOOSTED NOW" text & getting mad.
— ¬InvitedInterlocutor (@UnInterlocutor) December 27, 2021
It is a mass text sent from the network providers (O2, EE, etc.) to all handsets on their network at the request of government. That's why it doesn't know your vax status.
With vaccinated people even peeved off at receiving the text, you can imagine it exactly didn’t go down well with anti-vaxxers and sceptics - with some even reporting the text from the government as spam to their mobile network.
With each new threat to take my liberty away and now the toe curling desperate GET BOOSTED NOW text I received yesterday I now realise how 100% right I was to avoid their ridiculous non vaccination against what now amounts to a cold.
— Poseidon1984 #novaccinepassports (@kbf_2021) December 27, 2021
Get Boosted Now.
— Lord Bradley Green (@reallordgreen) December 26, 2021
Shame it wouldn’t send 🙄 pic.twitter.com/a4P9E8leFT
“GET BOOSTED NOW” no thanks I will report it as spam though pic.twitter.com/iGrA0V30XQ
— Dave (@Dave737667) December 27, 2021
Ahahahahahah. “Get boosted now”. Mate I’ve not even had the first two jabs of death juice. Am hardly gonna go running for this dose of poison. 🥴. #BoosterJab #donotcomply pic.twitter.com/m88L5x5r1P
— Dumbfounded (@Awake_Fighting) December 26, 2021
When / if you receive the NHS “Get boosted Now” text message, report it to OFCOM as SPAM by forwarding it to 7726. When you get the automatic reply asking for the number it came from you can just reply NHS or UK Government if you can’t obtain the actual number.
— TalkEasy26 (@TalkEasy26) December 27, 2021
As a result of anti-vaxxers and sceptics fuming over the text messages, people on Twitter had a laugh at their expense.
Loving the anti vax conspiracy nutters,going into foaming meltdown,with their GET BOOSTED NOW tweets pic.twitter.com/m6Mv4sEAV0
— Brian (@Brian_JTC) December 26, 2021
imagine thinking your hard because you replied to the automated 'get boosted now' text with 'fuck off' 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/WX1FsarcPv
— 👤 (@dokacola) December 26, 2021
Omg! So many snowflakes still going on about how the "tone" of the GET BOOSTED NOW campaign has hurt their feelings. Probs the same people who say "my face hurtey" when asked to wear a mask
— Jay (@Godless_Skies) December 27, 2021
Nice to see all the anti-vaxx, anti-mask, anti-hand washing Karens getting all flustered over the GET BOOSTED NOW texts.
— ΔΝΣ (@Dan230979) December 27, 2021
Keep ‘em coming 😂
Lol looks like another batch of GET BOOSTED NOW texts have gone out. Antivaxxers about to come in like a wrecking ball.
— martin (@martinwithani) December 27, 2021
I got the GET BOOSTED NOW text.
— Mostly Harmless #FBPPR (@rocciabella) December 27, 2021
It didn't upset me, I simply deleted the text as I had already had the booster.
Simple really.
All the GET BOOSTED NOW text snowflakes frothing themselves up about reporting to OFCOM is making me want to laugh and cry.
— Elle (@AilsaMcF) December 26, 2021
Perhaps the government may need to rethink the capitalisation of their message next time...
