The NHS in the east region has today urged anyone currently eligible for a covid vaccination, to book an appointment without delay.

Calls to get jabbed come alongside new figures showing more than 31 million people across England have received a first dose of the vaccine since the NHS made history by giving Maggie Keenan the first Pfizer jab outside of a clinical trial in Coventry Hospital in December.

NHS staff are continuing to jab people within the guidance set out by the JCVI on priority groups and anyone aged 34 and over can now book their jab through the national booking system.

In the east region more than three and a half million people have received their first dose of protection and more than two million people have already been fully vaccinated.

Roving vaccination vehicles are operating in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes with many pop-up and walk-in clinics also being facilitated to make getting your vaccination even more convenient.

Catherine Morgan OBE, Regional Chief Nurse for the East of England NHS England and NHS Improvement

Catherine Morgan OBE, Regional Chief Nurse for the East of England NHS England and NHS Improvement, said: “The biggest and most successful NHSvaccination programme continues to go from strength to strength with more than 49 million vaccinations delivered so far, including more than 5,900,000 in our region.

“Vaccines are safe, effective and it’s never too late to get your jab, so if you’re eligible do not delay booking in for your appointment.

“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.

“Following updated advice from the government and Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), people aged 50 and over and the clinically vulnerable are having their second doses brought forward to counter the spread of the variant so the NHS will let you know if you need to rebook.”

Last week, the Government and the JCVI announced that second dose appointments will be brought forward from 12 to 8 weeks for those aged 50 and over who have yet to receive theirs. Nobody needs to contact the NHS.

People who should have their second dose brought forward do not need to contact the NHS. The NHS will let them know when they can rebook.

The NHS made history when Maggie Keenan became the first person in the world to be protected against coronavirus outside of a clinical trial when she received the Pfizer vaccine at Coventry Hospital on 8 December.

The Essex Community Vaccination Team van, taking covid vaccinations out into the local community

When invited, people will be able to book at one of the vaccination centres, pharmacies or general practice sites across the country available through the national booking service.

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. People 39 and under who are eligible and pregnant women will be offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in line with recently updated JCVI guidance.