Invitations to get a Covid vaccine are now landing on the doormats of all of London’s 16 and 17 year olds, in a further effort to boost take-up in this age group, as the biggest and most successful vaccination programme in NHS history expands further.

Over 14,000 Londoners aged 16 and 17 have already had their jab – almost one third – which includes those who were eligible previously due to an underlying health condition.

Over 360,000 people in the country aged 16 and 17 have been vaccinated since the NHS was given the green light to offer all 16 and 17 years olds the life-saving jab two weeks ago.

All 16 and 17 year olds will now begin receiving letters, inviting them to come to their nearest walk-in centre with many already receiving invitations from their GP and taking up the offer.

The JCVI updated guidance on 4 August so that all 16 and 17-year-olds could be offered one dose of the vaccine, and anyone in this age group can now find their nearest centre through the ‘grab a jab’ NHS online walk-in finder, with more sites becoming available every day.

Follow-up text messages are being sent out from today (20 Aug) to ensure NHS staff are vaccinating 16 and 17-year-olds as quickly as possible ahead of their return to school.

GPs are also inviting at-risk children aged between 12 and 15 years old, who are clinically vulnerable to covid or live with adults who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus, with almost 4,000 children in London – and 30,000 children across the country – in this age group already protected.

NHS staff have delivered well over 74 million doses, since the NHS in England administered the first jab outside of clinical trials to Maggie Keenan in December 2020, and more 34 million adults are have now received both jabs.

Martin Machray, Joint Chief Nurse for the NHS in London, said:
“I am pleased to see that 16 and 17 year olds across the city are coming forward for their jab, protecting themselves, their friends and their loved ones.

“The vaccine is proven to be safe and effective, and with hundreds of vaccine walk-in, pop up and booked appointment services across London I urge everyone who is eligible, including all 16 and 17 year olds, to come forward as soon as possible.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “It is excellent to see the enthusiasm young people have shown to get a COVID-19 vaccine and help to build our wall of defence against this virus.

“I urge you to join the hundreds of thousands of 16 and 17 year olds who have already taken up the offer of vaccine as quickly as possible to ensure you get vital protection before returning to college or sixth form.

“Please don’t delay – vaccines are allowing us to live safely with this virus without restrictions and enjoy our freedoms.”

The National Booking Service (NBS) is currently open to anyone aged 18 or over, and to people within three months of their 18th birthday.

Since 12 August, when the NBS was opened to people shortly to turn 18, more than 126,000 eligible teenagers across the country have been sent text messages inviting them to book their vaccine appointments.

London’s NHS has been jabbing at hundreds of convenient locations, including mosques, museums, football stadiums and other community hubs, as well as a number of pop-up clinics at shops and festivals.

Children aged 12 to 15 who are clinically vulnerable to covid will be contacted by the NHS and invited for their vaccine. Those who are eligible include those with Down’s syndrome, or undergoing many cancer treatments, have had organ or bone marrow transplants or who are on the learning disability register.

The covid vaccine will also be offered to children aged 12 years and over who live with someone who is immunosuppressed, such as those receiving chemotherapy or who have had a transplant

Second doses are available to people over 18 who had their first dose eight weeks ago, in line with JCVI guidance.