By 700k jabs booked in a day after opening to over-18s.
More than 700,000 Covid-19 jabs were booked last Friday, when vaccinations were opened up to people aged 18-20, the BBC reports.
Young adults in England are being urged to get vaccinated to counter a third wave, fuelled by the Delta variant and prevalent among the young
NHS chief Sir Simon Stevens has urged those over 18 in England to have their first jab.
“Now’s the time,” Sir Simon said. “It’s the single easiest way to protect yourself, keep friends and family safe, and hopefully give us all our summer freedoms back.”
Covid vaccinations are now open to all adults across England, with more than 700,000 appointments being booked on Friday alone – when the programme opened up to 18-20 year olds.
NHS England said the figures did not include appointments made through local GP-led vaccination services, or people receiving vaccinations at walk-in centres.
NHS chief Sir Simon Stevens, Sky
Sir Simon said “well over three million people in their twenties have now had their first jab”.
“This pandemic has been a challenge for everyone but the various restrictions have hit young people particularly hard.
“We’re now in the race to the finish line. The more of us who are vaccinated, the safer we all are.”
UK coronavirus infections have risen slightly in the last week, with an estimated 119,000 people – up from 110,000 – now positive for the virus.
The Office for National Statistics figures, up to 12 June, suggest one in every 540 people is infected.
The more infectious Delta variant accounts for almost all of the cases, says Public Health England.
There is some regional variation in infection rates, however, and some good news on vaccine efficacy.
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