Dr Michael Mosley has criticised the Government’s handling of the pandemic and says he fears the anti-vax movement could scupper the success of a vaccine.

The TV presenter, 63, has filmed a Channel 4 series to help people improve their health.

He told Radio Times magazine: “The crisis is not being handled at all well here.

“The UK seems to have staggered along amazingly badly… In late February, Boris Johnson was still laughing about shaking hands with people on Covid-19 wards. He clearly still wasn’t taking it that seriously, whereas the people who knew were screaming about it.

Radio Times magazine cover (Radio Times)

“Of course more could have been done. It was obvious a long way back that people in care homes would be hit and we could have protected them.

“It would have made a big difference to go into lockdown a couple of weeks earlier.”

Dr Mosley said: “We’ve been unclear on face masks, whereas it would be nice to have had that taken seriously in February.”

Looking to the future, he said: “My greatest fear is that people won’t take it because of the anti-vax movement.

“If there are enough selfish people out there who don’t vaccinate, they will continue to spread it in the community.”

While the anti-vaxxers might not fall into the at-risk groups, they will be spreading it to those who are, Dr Mosley warned.

“If 20-30% of people decide not to vaccinate, unless the Government makes it mandatory, the virus will just go on spreading.

“And it’s still possible that the vaccine simply won’t work at all, although I don’t think that will be the case. But I do think the virus will be with us for a long, long time.”

He said: “A second wave is highly likely, which will come at the same time as the flu. When we hit September I expect the numbers to shoot up.”

The presenter, who has filmed Lose A Stone In 21 Days With Michael Mosley, added: “It’s the teachers who are at risk. If I were a teacher in my 60s with diabetes, I would be anxious about schools reopening, but they absolutely have to.”

The full interview is in this week’s Radio Times magazine, out now.