All adults can now book a life-saving Covid jab vaccine, NHS
chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced today.
Everyone aged 18 and over is being urged to arrange a jab if they
have not had one as the NHS Covid Vaccination Programme, the
biggest in health service history, begins the final push to
protect the country.
The NHS will start to send around 1.5 million texts to people
aged 18-20 from tomorrow morning in what Sir Simon called a
“watershed moment”.
The NHS is braced for high demand after the first group of people
in their 20s to be offered vaccines booked more than one million
appointments in a single day.
Tomorrow's milestone comes fewer than 200 days since the NHS made
history by delivering the first Covid vaccine outside of a
clinical trial to Maggie Keenan in Coventry.
Already, around eight in 10 adults have had their first dose
while more than half have had their vital second dose, meaning
they have maximum protection from Covid-19.
Latest figures show the NHS in England has delivered over 60
million vaccinations just six months after making history when
Margaret Keenan received the approved vaccine in Coventry.
NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens
said: “This is truly a watershed moment: whoever you
are, wherever you live, if you are aged 18 or older and you are
yet to book your Covid jab, today should be the day you make that
happen.
“Only months after delivering the world-first first jab hard
working NHS staff have given more than 60 million vaccinations in
England alone, saving thousands of lives and giving the entire
country hope for a brighter future.
“Extensive planning and the tireless hard work of staff and
volunteers have made the NHS vaccine programme an historic
success.
“Now we are delivering a final push to protect the country so
when your time comes, or if you haven’t done so already, please
play your part and come forward to make your first appointment or
get your second dose.”
NHS England lead for the Covid Vaccination Programme, Dr.
Emily Lawson, said: “We’re in the final weeks of this
historic drive to get everyone aged 18 and over their first
Covid-19 vaccine, having already vaccinated more than three
quarters of the population in only six months, and ensured that
over half the country has had their second jab too.
“We know that getting both doses is vital to maximising the
positive impact of the vaccines, if you’re offered the chance to
bring forward your second jab, please do so and most importantly
come forward for both appointments, and follow the tens of
millions who have already got themselves this essential
protection from Covid-19.”
Prime Minister said: “Offering all adults a jab less than
200 days after the programme launched is one of our country’s
greatest collective achievements, saving over 14,000 lives so
far.
“I cannot thank NHS staff, the Army, volunteers, manufacturers
and all those involved in this extraordinary national effort
enough.
“Today sees vaccines accelerate in their race with the virus - so
now let’s finish the job. If you haven’t yet, come forward and
get your jab.”
Health and Social Care Secretary said: “This is a momentous occasion in our
national mission. In just over six months the NHS has
administered more than 72 million vaccines across the UK at
lightning speed and reached 4 in 5 adults. Now we are offering a
jab to every single person over the age of 18 in England.
“We started with the most vulnerable to COVID-19 and, so far, we
have saved more than 14,000 lives and prevented 42,000
hospitalisations in England alone.
“In our race between the vaccine and the virus, we’re approaching
the final stretch and we are doing all we can to vaccinate people
as quickly as possible with first and second doses. When you get
the call, get the jab so we can put this pandemic behind us for
good.”
When invited, people will be able to book at one of the 1,600
Vaccination Centre, pharmacy or general practice sites across the
country that are available through the national booking service.
Vaccination centres are also available in convenient locations
such as mosques, museums and rugby grounds.
Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include
a web link
to the NHS website to reserve an appointment.
People who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead
to book their jab.
People aged 39 and under who are eligible and pregnant women will
be offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in line with updated
JCVI guidance.
