NHS mark 100 days since first dose of Covid vaccination given by urging over 50s to make their first appointment

Those over 50 are being invited for their jabs. Pic: Pixabay

Today (17 March) marks the 100th day since the NHS gave the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Now, people over 50 are being urged to take up their Covid-19 vaccination in the latest stage of the programme.

NHS Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens said: “Just 100 days since the NHS gave the world’s first Covid jab outside of clinical trials, our vaccine programme passes another milestone as we now invite everyone aged 50 and over to book their vaccination.”

Healthcare teams continue to urge anyone yet to be vaccinated to take up the offer as around two million additional text messages go out from today with a link allowing people also to pick a convenient slot at an NHS vaccine centre, or pharmacy-led service through the national booking service website.

People who cannot go online can call the service on 119.

The text alerts will be followed up with 2.4 million letters landing on doorsteps later in the week.

The NHS has already delivered a vaccine to more than 20 million people in England as supplies have flowed since early December, with the NHS committed to offering vaccinations as quickly as available supply allows in the coming weeks.

Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, GP and Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS Lead, said: “The number of vaccines available to the NHS depends on manufacturers’ ability to supply us but this week and next we have larger supplies, so we want anyone in the top priority groups – people aged 50 and older as well as those working in health and care and anyone with an underlying health condition – to come forward soon to protect themselves and their loved ones.

“The success of the NHS vaccination roll-out is testament to the work of NHS staff, and as new groups of people are invited to come forward it’s exciting that we are now inviting people aged 50 and over to get their jab.

“The vaccines are both safe and effective, so if anybody eligible hasn’t been vaccinated yet, I’d urge them to go online or call 119 and get themselves booked in.”

The NHS has been offering the vaccine to the most at-risk people as soon as doses have been made available, in line with guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

See the latest coronavirus vaccination stats and information

More than 10 million jabs – first and second doses – have been arranged through the NHS National Booking Service.

Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’, including a web link to click and reserve an appointment at one of more than 300 large-scale vaccination centres or pharmacies across England.

Text invites will also be received from local booking services through a GP-led team.

Texts will arrive in advance of the standard letter, meaning this could enable the NHS to react faster to changing vaccine supplies and fill appointments quickly.

Vaccinations are now being administered at more than 1,600 sites across the country, including mosques, museums and rugby grounds, with the distribution of centres meaning 98 per cent of the country lives within 10 miles of at least one vaccination service.

Appointments are staggered to allow for social distancing and people are being asked not to turn up early to avoid creating queues.

Everyone will receive a health status check and a pre-vaccination assessment before they have their jab.

The NHS made history when Maggie Keenan became the first person in the world to be protected against coronavirus outside of a clinical trial when she received the Pfizer vaccine at Coventry Hospital on 8 December.

The NHS was also the first health system to deliver the new Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine when Brian Pinker, 82, received his on 4 January.

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Have you had your first dose of the vaccine, or do you have it booked in? Let us know in the comments below.