Those aged 16 and 17 across Preston and Lancashire are being urged to book their Covid-19 vaccine through the National Booking Service as the NHS vaccination programme pulls out all the stops to protect the population ahead of winter.

Almost three-quarters of a million young people in England – around 60 per cent – have already received their vaccine thanks to the NHS ‘Grab a Jab’ campaign.

The online booking service now offers an additional way for people aged 16 and 17 to get a single shot of Pfizer in line with Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice.

Thousands of texts are being sent to eligible teenagers this week.

Messages appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include a web link to the NHS website to make a booking.

It is the latest phase of the NHS COVID vaccination programme, the biggest and most successful in health service history.

NHS staff have already been vaccinating young people at hundreds of convenient sites including football matches, colleges, universities, and shopping centres.

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Lancashire and South Cumbria Senior Responsible Officer, Jane Scattergood, said: “It is fantastic that uptake among young people continues to be strong thanks to the NHS ‘Grab a Jab’ campaign where NHS staff have been vaccinating at festivals, football stadia, and colleges.

“Alongside getting protected at one of hundreds of walk-in centres across the country, people aged 16 and 17 can now also book through the national booking service, where they will be able to get an appointment at a convenient local site at a time that suits them.

“The vaccine is safe and effective and will mean we can continue to do the things we enjoy most, as well as giving vital protection to you and your family and friends.”

NHS staff and volunteers have also been vaccinating on university campuses at pop-up clinics and walk-in centres, urging students to get their jab or second dose during Freshers week and get protected as the new academic year begins.

Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup said: “The vaccine rollout continues to be a remarkable success thanks to the ongoing work the NHS is doing to make it even easier to book your jab.

“I continue to urge everyone to book their jab as soon as possible, to make sure you’re giving you and your family the best possible protection.”

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People within three months of their 18th birthday can book both doses through the national booking service.

In line with guidance from the JCVI, the NHS is vaccinating this age group with a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

The NHS have now started administering booster vaccines to eligible people just 48 hours after the government accepted the recommendation by the JVCI, which advises that everyone aged 50 and over, as well as clinically vulnerable individuals and frontline health and social care workers, receives a top-up dose.

The NHS has also started to vaccinate children aged 12 to 15 after the government accepted the UK Chief Medical Officers’ recommendation to extend the vaccine offer to this age group.

Covid jabs are being delivered by local school-age immunisation services that are working closely with schools to identify all eligible children.

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