London’s NHS is to ramp up booster vaccinations throughout December, opening three new Hospital Hub+ sites, making it more convenient than ever for Londoners to get their Covid-19 top-up vaccine before Christmas, and challenge the potential threat of the Omicron variant.

Hospital hubs, vaccination centres, pharmacies, GP surgeries and community pop ups will be stepping up capacity to deliver jabs across the city, and even more new vaccination centres will joining existing sites, making it even more convenient for Londoners to get vaccinated before the new year.

Online bookings are available for all those in their 30s and above. The national booking service will open up to everyone aged 18 and over from Wednesday this week. Some vaccination sites may offer a walk-in service for 18s and over before Wednesday this week if they have spare capacity.

The NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital jab.

Dr Vin Diwakar, Medical Director for the NHS in London said:

“NHS staff, volunteers and community groups are already working incredibly hard to deliver covid vaccines as swiftly as possible to protect the health of Londoners as the number of Omicron cases in the city continue to grow.

“The booster dramatically improves the level of protection against Omicron so we urge all adults to book or walk in to a number of convenient vaccination sites across the capital as soon as possible, with more to open in the coming weeks.”

New hospital hubs in London opening to provide vaccinations for the public, patients and staff include West Middlesex Hospital, Gordon Hospital and Hillingdon Hospital, in addition to the eight existing hospital hubs across London already vaccinating.

Vanessa Sloane, Deputy Chief Nurse at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust, which will be opening the West Middlesex Hospital Hub for vaccinations this week, said:

“We are delighted to be able to support our local community, including our staff families living in the vicinity, through the opening of our vaccination hub. The public support for Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust vaccine hub over the last 21 months has been fantastic and we look forward to meeting the community in a positive way as they have their vaccinations to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

With more than 400 varied locations across London offering the jab, there are more places delivering vaccines now than at any other point in the programme, including pharmacies, GP practices and other community sites, meaning the vast majority of people in London live within 10 miles of a vaccination clinic.

Over 14 million jabs have been given by NHS staff and volunteers in London, with over 2 million boosters given to eligible Londoners, as the biggest and most successful vaccination drive in health history continues.

Following the launch of a recruitment drive last week, the NHS is continuing to encourage people to come forward and help the NHS to save lives either as a volunteer or in a paid role in the programme.

NHS staff will also be redeployed so that they can focus on protecting the entire country as quickly as possible and military aid will be in place in every region across the country to support NHS staff with planning for the extra vaccinations.

NHS chiefs are urging people to not delay their booster and book their jab in the run up to the Christmas break.

The NHS has advised that the best way to get your booster quickly is by booking online through the National Booking Service or by calling 119 but if walk in centres have capacity to do so, they can vaccinate adults aged 18 and over immediately.