The NHS Covid vaccination programme will today (Wednesday) open
up to everyone in their thirties as the biggest and most
successful vaccination drive in NHS history begins inviting
people aged 30 and 31 years old.
One million more people aged 30 and 31 will be invited by text
over the coming days, leaving only adults between 18 and 29 yet
to get the nod to come forward.
Since opening up to people in their thirties, nearly four million
appointments have been booked.
The NHS has now delivered almost 32 million first doses of the
jab, and well over 19 million of adults have had both doses,
meaning they have maximum protection from the virus.
The NHS is urging everyone who is eligible to take up the offer
of a jab at one of the 1,600 convenient locations across the
country including mosques, museums and rugby grounds.
GP and national medical director for primary care Dr
Nikki Kanani said: “Getting the vaccine is the single
most important step we can take to protect ourselves, our
families and our communities against COVID-19 with the jabs
saving thousands of lives already and today the biggest and most
successful NHS covid vaccination programme in history is rolling
out to everyone in their thirties.
“The offer of a vaccine doesn’t expire so if you are eligible and
haven’t booked please do come forward when you’re invited to.”
On the advice of the government and Joint Committee on
Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), people aged 50 and over and
the clinically vulnerable are having their second doses brought
forward to counter the spread of the Indian variant. Nobody needs
to contact the NHS and people will be told to rebook if they need
to.
NHS England’s lead for the NHS vaccination programme, Dr
Emily Lawson said: “This weekend the
biggest NHS vaccination programme in history hit another
outstanding and important milestone with more than 50 million
life-saving jabs being administered across the country in under
six months.
“The success of the NHS vaccination programme is not a
happy accident - it’s the result of exceptional planning, targeted
delivery and people’s determination to protect their patients,
friends and communities as fast as possible.”
By following a link and easy booking steps, people can book both
jabs at the same time and can choose from a list of NHS
Vaccination Centres or pharmacy-led vaccination services as well
as some GP-led sites.
The NHS made history when Maggie Keenan became the first person
in the world to be protected against coronavirus outside of a
clinical trial when she received the Pfizer vaccine at Coventry
Hospital on 8 December.
Health and Social Care Secretary, said:
“Our vaccination programme is moving at such a phenomenal pace
and I am delighted that less than 6 months after Margaret Keenan
received the first authorised jab in the world, we are now able
to open the offer to everyone in their thirties and over.
“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has rolled up
their sleeves to help us roll out this life-saving jab. The NHS
is booking record numbers of appointments and it is fantastic to
see the public come forward in such exceptional numbers.
“The vaccine is our way out of this pandemic and recent data has
shown the life-saving protection a second dose of the jab can
give, especially against the new variant. I urge everyone to come
forward when you get the offer and play a part in getting us back
to normality.”
When invited, people will be able to book at one of the
vaccination centre, pharmacy or general practice sites across the
country that are available through the national booking service.
Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’, including
a web link to the NHS website to reserve an appointment. More
appointments are being added to the National Booking Service
every day.
People who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead
to book their jab.
People 39 and under who are eligible and pregnant women will be
offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in line with recently
updated JCVI guidance.
