Face mask imageNHS England is inviting those aged 65 to 69 and clinically vulnerable people to get a COVID-19 vaccine in the country’s fight against coronavirus.

With vaccines delivered by NHS staff, this group of individuals joins those who have already been invited to get vaccines, as determined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The first four priority groups are care home residents and staff, over-80s and frontline health and care staff, over-70s, and clinically extremely vulnerable people.

NHS England says that almost 1.2 million letters were due to land on doorsteps by Saturday 13th of February asking people to log on to the national booking service, with another 1.2 million due to arrive this week.

Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week, the health service states. Those who receive a letter can choose from more than 100 large-scale vaccination centres or almost 200 pharmacy services.

In the next phase, GP-led vaccination sites will focus initially on the clinically vulnerable from cohort six because of the relationship between general practice and those with long-term conditions and continuity of care.

The drive to jab this next group of individuals comes after the NHS vaccinated more than 12 million people in the first four priority groups.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “The vaccination programme is continuing at an unprecedented speed and, as we’re on target to offer vaccines to all those in the first four priority groups by Monday, we are determined to keep up the momentum by expanding it even further.

“The NHS is doing everything it can to offer vaccines to the most vulnerable as quickly as possible, and today’s news will mean millions more at-risk individuals will be able to access a jab from next week.

“We will continue to accelerate the vaccination programme even further and I want to thank everyone in the NHS, volunteers and the armed forces for their tireless dedication.”

People aged 70 or over should contact the national booking service while health and care workers should speak to their employers, NHS England advises.

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

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