More than 2 million booster jabs have been delivered in the North East and Yorkshire as the NHS vaccination programme works at pace to protect the most vulnerable from coronavirus this winter.

Over the weekend of 20/21 November more than 116,000 booster doses of the vaccine, which can protect against serious illness, were delivered in this region. The NHS launched its Covid-19 booster programme in mid-September, since when more than 12 million additional doses of the life-saving vaccine have been delivered nationally to eligible groups.

Dr Yvette Oade, NHS Clinical Lead for the Covid-19 vaccination programme for North East and Yorkshire, welcomed the region’s latest booster vaccinations milestone.

“As we head towards winter it’s really encouraging to see people responding to the NHS call to get their life-saving booster which provides important protection against the virus,” Dr Oade said.

“Reaching the 2 million milestone in our region just over nine weeks since the launch of the vaccine booster programme is also testament to the commitment and hard work of everyone involved in delivering the vaccination programme, and I thank them for their efforts. We can see infection rates coming down again quickly in the age groups that have had their boosters.”

The achievement of the 2 million milestone in North East and Yorkshire comes as the NHS invites people who had their second dose more than five months ago for their booster, allowing them to book their booster in advance of becoming eligible so they can receive it as soon as they reach six months. People need to have had their second dose of vaccine at least six months before they receive their booster to ensure they get the maximum protection.

People can book an appointment using the NHS National Booking Service as soon as they are eligible. Those eligible are

• all adults aged 40 years or over,
• frontline health and social care workers,
• all those aged 16 to 39 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (as set out in the green book), and adult carers,
• adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals.

In addition, those living in residential care homes for older adults are being visited by primary care services for their booster jab.

The NHS has opened the National Booking Service to make booster vaccines available to newly eligible over-40s. People of this age can also make a booking by calling 119, or using the NHS online vaccine walk-in finder to find a convenient site across that requires no appointment. In some areas, people will be invited by their GP to receive their booster vaccination, where this is the most local service.

Almost 14.5 million vaccines have already been delivered in the North East and Yorkshire since the NHS launched its vaccination programme last December.