Everyone aged 40 and over is now being invited to book a life-saving Covid-19 jab as the NHS vaccination programme, the biggest and fastest in the health service’s history, goes from strength to strength.

Text messages are now going out to 40 and 41-year-olds today allowing them to arrange a jab at the click of a button through the national booking service.

Those aged 42 to 44 have already been text this week meaning in total another 2.5 million more people across the country have been invited for their jab.

Since the vaccination rollout began in December, more than 28 million people have been protected with at least one dose in England – nearly two thirds of the adult population.

It is vital everyone books in for their second jab to ensure they receive the maximum protection from coronavirus.

The NHS is vaccinating in line with guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation as supply allows. Those eligible will be able to book once they are invited to do so.

When invited, people will be able to book in at a Vaccination Centre or pharmacy site through the national booking service.

The NHS currently vaccinates using three vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca, all of which have been approved as safe and effective by the world leading medical regulator the MHRA.

People who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead to book their jab.

Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’, including a web link to the NHS website to reserve an appointment.