Just over a sixth of the total population in England to have received their Covid-19 booster jab live in the South East.

Across England, six million people have now received their COVID-19 booster vaccine top up as the NHS covid-19 vaccination rollout continues to protect the country against the virus. Over a million of these are in the South East.

Since the booster programme launched just over six weeks ago, millions have come forward for vital extra protection, including well over half of the eligible over 50s.

It comes on the back of last week’s record with nearly 1.6 million boosters delivered across England in seven days – including 710,000 reported doses last Friday and over the weekend alone.

More than 86 million vaccines have already been delivered and nine in 10 adults have had their first dose since the NHS in England made history when Margaret Keenan received the first jab outside of a clinical trial in Coventry, in December 2020.

There are more clinics delivering vaccines now than at any other point in the programme, including pharmacies, GP practices and other convenient community sites – almost every person registered with an English GP practice lives within 10 miles of a fixed vaccination location.

The overwhelming majority of care homes have now hosted a vaccine clinic or have it booked in for the coming days and weeks, allowing this priority group of people to get their top-up.

The NHS kicked off the booster programme on September 16, within just two days of updated advice from the JCVI.

Vaughan Lewis, Medical Director for NHS England and NHS Improvement’s South East region, said: “The rate of uptake of the booster jab in the South East is encouraging news, however we mustn’t be complacent and I urge anyone who is eligible for a booster to book theirs today.”

Dr Nikki Kanani, deputy lead for the NHS vaccination programme, said: “I had my booster at a local pharmacy and I would urge anyone, as soon as they can, to come forward and book their all important protection.

“Booster vaccines are by far our best protection against the virus as we head into winter like no other and it is fantastic to see enthusiasm continue to grow as more people become eligible, with millions of lifesaving top-ups delivered across England already.

“It is testament to the hard work of NHS staff and volunteers that only six weeks into the NHS vaccine programme, more than half of eligible over 50s and two thirds of eligible over 80s have already received their booster vaccination.”

Eligible individuals are able to quickly and conveniently book an appointment at www.nhs.uk/book-covid-booster. People that can’t go online can book by phoning 119.

Those who are eligible for a booster at least six months on from their second dose include:

• those living in residential care homes for older adults
• all adults aged 50 years or over
• frontline health and social care workers
• all those aged 16 to 49 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.