Over 25s in England can book their Covid jab from Tuesday
Health Secretary announces extension of the vaccination roll-out to include younger people
Last updated 7th Jun 2021
Anyone over the age of 25 in England can book their Covid vaccination from Tuesday morning, it's been confirmed.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Commons he was extending the roll-out of the vaccine to include people aged 25-29 for the first time.
Tuesday 8th June will mark six months since the first vaccine was handed out. Since then 76% of the population has had one dose, and just over half are fully vaccinated with two.
Jabs for 25-29 year olds
Mr Hancock told MPs: "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 25-29. Over the remainder of this week the NHS will send texts to people in these age groups and of course GPs will be inviting people on their lists to come forward.''
8-week wait instead of 12 weeks to speed up process
Alongside opening up appointments to younger age groups, the health service is pressing ahead with offering second doses to people at pace.
The so-called race between variants and vaccines has led to a sped-up timetable for offering second jabs.
Instead of waiting 12 weeks for their second dose, people are now being invited back for their second dose after eight weeks.
Vaccine programme enters "home straight"
NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: Today is a watershed moment as the world-beating NHS vaccination programme enters the home straight of our race to offer everyone their first dose.
"The NHS vaccination programme is a real team effort and it is a testament to NHS teams across the country that we are able to open up to people in their 20s just six months on from delivering that world-first jab to Maggie Keenan.
"The tireless efforts of NHS staff to protect the people they care for and their communities has quite simply saved lives, and when you get the text, you're next.
"Getting the lifesaving Covid-19 jab is the most important thing you can do, with NHS staff vaccinating at over 1,600 sites, including vaccine buses, places of worship, sport stadiums and other convenient locations. So when you get that text, book your appointment and join the millions who are already protected.''