People aged 42 and over now being offered coronavirus vaccines
People in England aged over 42 are being offered a jab
Last updated 27th Apr 2021
People in England aged 42 and over can now book their coronavirus vaccine jab.
The national booking system has been extended for the second time in two days to allow more healthy adults in their 40s to book their jab.
If you live in England and are 42, or will turn 42 before July 1st, you can now arrange your vaccine appointment through the national booking website.
The system only opened to those aged 44 and over on Monday.
Due to supply constraints throughout April, second vaccines for those at highest risk of Covid-19 were being prioritised.
But despite that, the NHS was able to extend the rollout of the vaccine programme to its second phase, healthy adults under the age of 50.
The first of this group to be offered the jab was those age 45-49.
Within a week of the booking system opening, two thirds of this group had received their first vaccine.
Spike in infections predicted
It comes after the Prime Minister warned the UK would probably be hit with another wave of Covid-19.
But Boris Johnson said that coronavirus jabs would provide “pretty robust fortifications” should there be another spike in infections going forward, as he hailed the UK’s vaccination programme.
During a visit to Wrexham on Monday, he urged the public to take up the vaccine when offered it.
Government data up to April 25 shows that of the 46,650,008 jabs have been given in the UK so far, with 12,897,123 second doses.
How are the other nations doing?
As well as the clinically vulnerable, healthy adults aged 35 and over in Northern Ireland have been invited to book their vaccine appointment.
In Scotland, preparations are ongoing to extend the vaccine rollout to healthy adults in their 40s.
People aged 30 and over are being called for their appointments across Wales.
Covid-19 vaccine FAQs
What is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine?
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the UK on 2 December 2020. Britain was the first country in the world to approve the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19. Pfizer is an American pharmaceutical firm while BioNTech is a German biotechnology company. The vaccine is very delicate and has to be stored at -70 degrees, limiting the number of sites that can administer the jab.
What is the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine?
A vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca became the second vaccine approved for UK use on 30 December 2020. This vaccine was considered "the way out" of the pandemic in the UK, thanks to the fact it is easier to store than the Pfizer jab, making it well equipped for mass roll out. GPs and vaccination centres across the country began administering the jab in early January 2021. Under 30's in the U.K. were given the option to choose a different vaccine to this due to small risks of very rare blood clots. Instead, under-30s would typically choose the Pfizer jab or later, the moderna jab.
What is the Moderna vaccine?
The third vaccine approved for UK use on 8 January 2021 was developed by American firm Moderna. 24-year-old Elle Taylor from Wales became the first person in the UK to receive the Moderna jab in April. The Moderna vaccine is similar to the Pfizer jab in how it works but is even easier to roll out as it can be stored at -20 degrees rather than -70.
What is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
The fourth vaccine to be be approved in the UK was Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, released under the name Janssen. Notably, It is also the first single shot vaccine in use during this vaccine rollout.
Who was the first person to receive the Pfizer vaccine?
90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first patient in the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19 outside a clinical trial. She received her jab on 8 December 2020 at Coventry's University Hospital. Mrs Keenan, who lives in Coventry, became somewhat of a fashion influencer after the charity t-shirt she wore to her vaccination appointment sold out. Profits went towards buying Christmas presents for hospital patients. The grandmother advised everyone who was offered the vaccine to take it, saying "If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too."
Who was the first person to receive the Oxford vaccine?
Meanwhile, Brian Pinker from Oxford was first to receive the AstraZeneca jab outside of a clinical trial at the age of 82. Mr Pinker, who was vaccinated on 4 January 2021, praised the medical teams administering the vaccine, saying it would allow him to "really look forward" to celebrating his 48th wedding anniversary with wife Shirley later on in the year.
When will I receive the vaccine?
Vaccines were offered according to vulnerability levels. First to be offered the jab were people in care homes and their carers, followed by those over 80 and health and social care workers. People aged 65 and above were next on the priority list and then high-risk adults under the age of 65 followed by moderate risk adults under 65. The vaccine was then rolled out by age group.
How will I know when it's my turn to get vaccinated?
When it is your turn to receive the vaccination, you will be informed by the NHS. You should only attend vaccination sites if you have been told to do so. Vaccines are provided for free by the NHS and they will never ask for bank details. Find out more about vaccine scams here.
What is a vaccine passport?
The Government debate the idea of a vaccine passport as proof of full vaccination required to enter venues like nightclubs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid later "ditched" the idea and ensured clubbers that they no longer need to be double jabbed by the end of September 2021 to get into Nightclubs or big events.
Do I need a booster jab?
Pfizer/BioNTech booster jabs are rolled out as part of the Government's winter covid plan. Shots can be given to people aged 50 and over, those in care homes and frontline health and social care workers. All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group for Covid will also be eligible for a jab. There must be at least 6 months between a 2nd vaccine dose and a booster jab.
Oxford jab scientist Sarah Gilbert says booster jabs are "not needed for all" and that they should instead go to countries with low vaccination rates.
Will children be vaccinated?
The government have also made vaccines available to children aged between 12-15 as part of the country's winter Covid plan.
What about five to 11-year-olds getting vaccinated?
All 5 to 11-year-olds in England can now receive a coronavirus jab, following advice from the JCVI and the same decision being made in Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is also expanding their vaccination programme to include the 5-11 age range. It means almost six million children in the UK will be offered the Covid-19 vaccination.
What should I do if I’m eligible?
People will receive a text inviting them to get their jab through the national booking service.
Text invitations appear as an alert from “NHSvaccine” and include a web link to the NHS website to book an appointment.
Alternatively people can visit the NHS coronavirus vaccination booking website.
People who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead to book their jab.
Where can people get their jab?
Vaccinations are now being administered at more than 1,600 sites across England, including GP surgeries, pharmacies, mosques, museums and rugby grounds.
The booking service will guide people to sites close to them and the NHS has said that the vast majority of people live within 10 miles of one vaccination site.
Why this age group?
Experts who advise the Government on vaccines – the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation – has set out the priority list for Covid-19 jabs.
The first phase of the vaccination programme focused on people who were at high risk from the virus because of their age or underlying health conditions, and health and social care workers.
The second phase of the programme involves offering jabs to healthy younger adults – starting with those in their 40s.
When will I get my jab?
The JCVI has said that the NHS should take an age-based approach to the second phase of the rollout, despite calls for people in some key worker roles to get their vaccine as a priority.
It said that the second phase of the programme should start with those aged 40 to 49.
Healthy people aged 18 to 29 will be the last cohort offered the jab, and will be given either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, after officials said that this group should not be offered the AstraZeneca vaccine due to concerns about a very rare potential side effect in the form of an unusual type of blood clot.
The Government has previously pledged that all adults will be offered their first dose before the end of July.