Covid jab roll-out continues as 36 and 37-year-olds to get invites
Texts inviting people to book a Covid jab will be sent to 37-year-olds tomorrow and those aged 36 on Wednesday.
The texts will allow people to access the national booking service and arrange an appointment at an NHS vaccination centre, pharmacy or GP vaccination site.
The move to the next age group comes as more than 930,000 appointments were made in the days since the Covid vaccination programme opened to 38 and 39-year-olds.
NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said: “Bookings for the fastest and most successful NHS vaccination programme in history continue to surge with more than 930,000 appointments made in a matter of days since opening up to 38 and 39-year-olds.
“With well over 30 million first doses of vital protection against coronavirus delivered just six months into the NHS vaccination drive, the NHS is able to open up to 36 and 37-year-olds as the programme continues at pace.
“On the advice of the Government and 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. You will be told how to rebook if you need to.
“Getting vaccinated is the most important step we can take to protect ourselves, our families and our communities against Covid-19, so when it is your turn to get your first or second dose please do so.”
The Government and the JCVI announced that second dose appointments will be brought forward from 12 to eight weeks for those aged 50 and over who have yet to received theirs.
Nobody needs to contact the NHS.
People should continue to attend their appointments unless told otherwise.
Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’, including 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.
