THREE million people in their 20s will be able to book their coronavirus vaccine from today.
The NHS England Covid vaccine booking site opened to those aged between 25 and 29 at 7am.
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Those who are 24 years old and turn 25 before 1 July 2021 can also arrange their appointments on the NHS website.
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon: “I’m delighted to be able to tell the House that from this week we will start offering vaccinations to people under 30, bringing us ever closer to the goal of offering a vaccine to all adults in the UK by the end of next month.
“From tomorrow morning, we will open up vaccination to people aged 25 to 29.
“Over the remainder of this week, the NHS will send texts to people in this age groups, and of course GPs will be inviting people on their lists to come forward.”
The NHS hailed the “home straight” of the biggest vaccination programme in its history.
It comes less than two weeks after those aged 30 and over became eligble as the jabbing campaign speeds ahead.
Dr Nikki Kanani, director of primary care at NHS England, said that vaccine confidence in younger people had increased.
She told BBC Breakfast: “We had additional polling over the weekend that shows that the confidence in the vaccine has increased by a fifth – by 20 per cent – in those under-40s.
“We’re still seeing great uptake and we are definitely seeing younger people coming in and asking more questions, which is absolutely fine.”
She said more than four in five people in their 40s and two-thirds of those in their 30s have had their first dose, “and that is still going to increase”.
Nearly 77 per cent of adults in the UK have now had their initial shot and more than half (52.5 per cent) have had two.
Meanwhile, Wales is on track to offer every adult aged over 18 a Covid jab by next Monday.
First Minister Mark Drakeford has also pledged to get everyone double-jabbed by September.
In other coronavirus news:
- JUNE 21’s unlocking was plunged into doubt last night amid fears Boris Johnson was considering keeping restrictions in place until the start of the school holidays
- Brits are set to find out next Monday if June 21 “Freedom Day” will be delayed to July 5
- The rise in Covid case is “marks start of third wave”, an ex-Government adviser has warned
- Shocking maps show just how rapidly the Indian variant has spread within two weeks
Under-30s are the final cohort on the vaccine priority list, with a decision on whether to jab children under consideration by the JCVI.
Mr Hancock said he will “listen to clinical advice” from the JCVI on vaccinating 12 to 17 year olds.
The last phase of the rollout comes just six months since those in their 90s were invited in December 2020.
Maggie Keenan, 90, was the first person in the world to receive an approved jab outside of clinical trials.
The occasion on December 8 marked the start of Britain’s path to normality.
Vaccines Minister, Minister Zahawi said: “This is yet another incredible step forward in our journey back to normality.
“With our recently announced dating apps partnership, we are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to encouraging people to take up the vaccine.
“When you get the offer, get the jab – it could save your life and protect your loved ones.”
