Covid-19: People aged 45 and over in England invited to book vaccine

All health and social care workers, clinically vulnerable and over-50’s have now been offered a covid jab ahead of schedule, as the government invites people aged 45 and over to have their vaccine.

The target was reached ahead of schedule, with the government initially offering a first dose to the top nine priority groups by 15 April.

In England, around 95 per cent of people aged 50 and over have received a first dose, while 92 per cent who are clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid-19 have received the vaccine.

Data from Public Health England show there has already been a significant impact on reducing hospitalisations and deaths, with more than 10,000 lives saved by vaccinations between December and March.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I’m delighted that across the UK, we’ve met our target to offer a vaccine to everyone in the top nine priority groups, ahead of the deadline of the 15th of April.

“We’ve now delivered a first dose to over 32 million people and are on track to offer a vaccine to all adults by the end of July.

“This weekend we also saw a record number of second doses, so overall, as of midnight last night, we have now delivered more than 40 million doses of vaccines right across the UK. It’s a remarkable achievement.”

The NHS will continue to offer vaccines to people in cohorts 1-9 who have not yet come forward

The NHS booking service has opened to people aged 45-49 in England today and NHS England will be writing to all primary care networks today asking them to begin inviting the same age group to receive their vaccines.

People aged 49 are set to receive texts inviting them to book appointments in the coming days. This will be followed by others in cohort 10 in order of age over the coming weeks and months.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has published its final advice on phase two where the advice is eligible people will be invited to receive their vaccines in order of age over the coming weeks and months.

Mr Hancock added: “Today, the JCVI has published its final advice on an age-based prioritisation, which we accept in full.

“I can announce formally, that from today, we have opened up invitations to get a vaccine to all aged over 45, and then we will proceed to everyone aged over 40 in line with supplies.

“I’m very grateful to everybody involved in this vaccination programme, which allows us to lift restrictions across the country and already has saved over 10,000 lives, with more to come.”

The NHS will continue to offer vaccines to people in cohorts one - nine who have not yet come forward and will be offering people their second doses within 12 weeks in line with the guidance from the JCVI.

The government is on track to hit its target of offering a vaccine to all adults by the end of July.

Also from today, the Moderna vaccine will be deployed in England at more than 20 sites with the MHRA continuing to assess the Janssen and Novavax vaccines.