ALL over-18’s will get an invite to book in for their Covid vaccines from today.
It comes as the jab blitz enters the home stretch to get all UK adults jabbed.
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The Health Secretary revealed yesterday the NHS will now contact those between 18 and 20 and invite them to book a slot.
Speaking at the NHS Confed Virtual Conference, he said: “I can confirm that as of this afternoon, we have given a first dose of vaccine to four out of every five adults in the United Kingdom.
“And the speed of deployment means that tomorrow we can open vaccination to everyone over the age of 18.”
It comes after around one million people aged 21 and 22 were told to book their first coronavirus jab earlier this week.
Hundreds of thousands of text messages were sent out inviting them to schedule appointments for both doses via the national booking system.
On Tuesday the head of the NHS in England said all adults in England should be able to book their first Covid-19 jab by the end of the week.
It comes as:
- Face masks won’t be a legal requirement on public transport from July 19, says Matt Hancock
- A health chief has warned daily cases could be ‘up to 25,000’ – and 25 Covid variants are currently being monitored
- Britain now has the worst coronavirus outbreak in Europe as the Indian – or Delta – mutation sends cases soaring
- Care home staff will reportedly be legally obliged to get the jab to protect residents
- The JCVI says children shouldn’t be given the jab until more is known about the risks
Sir Simon Stevens told the NHS Confederation conference on Tuesday the NHS will “finish the job” of the vaccination programme to the “greatest extent possible” over the next four weeks.
Yesterday Dr Emily Lawson, lead for the NHS Covid vaccination programme, said: “The largest ever NHS vaccination campaign is in the home stretch of the first dose rollout.
“The vaccine is the most important step you can take to protect yourself, your friends and family so it’s really important everybody in the latest eligible groups books themselves in to get their jab and plays their part in this huge national effort.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock added: “We’re almost at the final hurdle of offering lifesaving jabs to all UK adults, with both vaccines providing the fullest possible protection against symptoms, serious illness and hospitalisation from this awful virus and moving us a step closer to beating this pandemic.”
It comes after the Prime Minister confirmed June 21 won’t be the hoped for “Freedom Day”.
This is due to rapidly rising cases of the Delta variant, first identified in India, and an increase of hospitalisations.
He gravely explained: “We can simply keep going with all of Step 4 on June 21, even though there is a real possibility that the virus will outrun the vaccines and that thousands more deaths would ensue which could otherwise have been avoided.
“Or else we can give the NHS a few more crucial weeks to get those remaining jabs into the arms of those who need them.”
He added that by July 19 around two-thirds of the adult population would have had two jabs, including all over-50s, the vulnerable and health and care workers, and the over-40s.
Mr Johnson said: “To do this we will now accelerate the second jabs for those over 40, just as we did for the vulnerable groups, so they get the maximum protection as fast as possible.
“We will bring forward our target to give every adult in this country a first dose by July 19.”
