News

All Adults in London Invited for Lifesaving Jab in Final Push

Everyone aged 18 and over can book themselves in for a life-saving jab as the NHS Covid Vaccination Programme, the biggest in health service history, begins the final push to protect the country.

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced the move today and hailed the moment all adults became eligible as “a watershed” moment.

Over 4.8 million people in London have had the lifesaving jab so far, with more than 7 in 10 adults having had their first dose, and over 3.1 million second doses administered.

The NHS is geared up for high demand after the first group of people in their 20s to be offered vaccines booked more than one million appointments nationally in a single day.

Today’s milestone comes fewer than 200 days since the NHS made history by delivering the first Covid vaccine outside of a clinical trial to Maggie Keenan in Coventry. Ninety-year-old Londoner George Dyer was the first person to receive a Covid-19 vaccination in London, at Croydon Hospital also on 8 December.

Martin Machray, Joint Chief Nurse for the NHS in London said: 

“This is a truly remarkable moment for London and England: whoever you are, if you are aged 18 or older and you are yet to book your Covid jab, today should be the day you make that happen.

“Only months after delivering the world-first first jab, hard working NHS staff in London have given nearly 8 million vaccinations, saving thousands of lives and giving the entire country hope for a brighter future.

“Extensive planning and the tireless hard work of staff and volunteers have made the NHS vaccine programme a historic success.

“Now we are delivering a final push to protect the capital and it is just as vital now as it was on day one of the programme to get yourself vaccinated – so whether you are 18 or 80 if you haven’t done so already, please play your part and come forward and book an appointment.”

Dr Tehseen Khan, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor to London Covid-19 vaccination programme said:

“We’re now in the final weeks of this historic NHS drive to get everyone aged 18 and over their first Covid-19 vaccine and I urge all Londoners to book an appointment as soon as possible.

“We know that getting both doses is vital to maximising the positive impact of the vaccines, if you’re aged over 40 and offered the chance to bring forward your second jab, please do so and most importantly come forward for both appointments, and follow the tens of millions who have already got themselves this essential protection from Covid-19.”

When invited, people will be able to book at one of the hundreds of local vaccination sites across the capital, including at GP practices, places of worship, sports grounds, shopping centres and pharmacies as well as the option of turning up at a number of walk in and pop up centres across London.

Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include 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 aged 39 and under who are eligible and pregnant women will be offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in line with updated JCVI guidance.