The NHS will open its new vaccine booking system five days early and target Christmas shoppers with 'booster buses' after Boris Johnson said the rollout 'could go faster'.
Those aged 40 and over who had their second dose three months ago will today be able to book their booster for as early as tomorrow.
Ministers have vowed to offer a booster vaccine to all adults by the end of January in a bid to protect Britain from the Omicron variant.
Their vaccine advisers last week recommended the move and suggested reducing the gap between doses from six months to three. Health officials had said they hoped to implement the policy 'no later' than this coming Monday.
But the national booking system has been updated to allow eligible people aged over 40 or in a high-risk group in England to book from today.
People will be able to book a month in advance, two months after their second dose.
Boris Johnson last week said vaccination centres will be 'popping up like Christmas trees'
Younger people will be invited to book their booster in the coming weeks, as officials increase eligibility in five-year age bands.
Mr Johnson last week said vaccination centres will be 'popping up like Christmas trees' and Health Secretary Sajid Javid pledged to put the booster programme 'on steroids'. But fewer booster jabs were given in England this weekend than before they made their promise.
The 221,674 given on Sunday was down from 223,189 the week before. And the 412,755 given on Saturday compared with 419,657 the previous week. Mr Johnson said yesterday: 'The booster programme is the fastest in Europe, I think we have done more boosters than any comparable country. That doesn't mean it couldn't go faster. I would certainly say to people that now is the time to get it.'
The NHS will send Covid 'booster buses' to retail parks to offer jabs to Christmas shoppers under plans to accelerate the programme. Health chiefs hope the mobile vaccine clinics will help them hit their target of vaccinating 3.5million a week.
Health chiefs hope the mobile vaccine clinics will help them hit their target of vaccinating 3.5million a week
The Health Service will make it as easy as possible to get the jab from the likes of pharmacies, churches or shopping centres.
A health source
