First 24-hour London Covid-19 vaccination centre and Wembley Stadium among new centres being opened by the NHS this weekend, as hundreds of thousands more Londoners rush forward to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

The increase in vaccination sites comes as Londoners surge forward for the Covid-19 vaccine, with more than double the number of daily vaccinations given compared to this time last week.

New sites joining the call to arms include London landmark and the home of English football, Wembley Stadium and Chelsea and Charlton football clubs, as well as the city’s first 24/7 Covid-19 vaccination centre in Haringey – all in a bid to protect Londoners in time for the festive season.

Walk-ins are available in many vaccination sites across London, but booking is best, so head to www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine or call 119 to guarantee your jab. New appointment slots are added every day, so while the website is incredibly busy do keep trying if there are queues as you will get an appointment.

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

“This week we have seen high numbers of people get their booster, providing significant protection against death and serious disease for them and their loved ones during this festive period, and others coming forward for their first or second dose.

“We still need many more Londoners to get their life-saving jab and we continue to ramp up sites across the capital thanks to NHS staff, local councils, partners and volunteers who have made this possible in such a short space of time.”

In response to the increase in demand, the NHS in London is supercharging to get London vaccinated against Covid-19, with the new vaccination sites joining more than 400 existing sites available to book or walk into across London.

Almost 95,000 Covid vaccinations (first, second and booster doses) were given on Wednesday 15th December – more than double compared to the same day last week (46,300 vaccinations on Wednesday 8th).

In total, London has seen a 66% increase in people coming forward for a Covid vaccine compared to at the beginning of December, and the trend shows no signs of slowing.

NHS chiefs in London say the increase is partly attributable to more people coming forward for their booster vaccinations following invitations being offered to everyone over the age of 18, from three months after their second dose.

In the last week (8th-15th December), 476,219 boosters and third doses have been given to Londoners compared to 270,444 in the first week of December – an increase of 76%.

However, NHS bosses are also reminding Londoners yet to get any Covid-19 vaccination that it is not too late to get protected.

Dr Vin Diwakar added:

“It is never too late to be able to come forward for your first, second or booster dose, and we encourage all eligible Londoners to book or walk in to a convenient site before the end of the year to get the vaccine – the best protection from the potentially devastating effects of Covid-19.”

NHS staff are working around the clock to get jabs to those who need them, but they can’t do it alone. Londoners are asked to help fill paid and voluntary roles like vaccinators and stewards, so if you can help the NHS to save even more lives, search ‘NHS vaccine team’ now.