Young people set a record-breaking day of coronavirus vaccine bookings
More than a million people booked a coronavirus jab on the NHS website on Tuesday, as bookings went live for 25-29 year olds.
A total of 1,082,596 first and second dose slots were snapped up across the day, passing the million mark for the first time. To put this in perspective, 279,678 doses were booked through the national booking service on Monday.
As bookings opened up to the new age group, an initial surge prompted 100,000 bookings an hour between 7am and midday – what NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens dubbed a ‘Glastonbury-style’ rush.
“The obvious enthusiasm of younger adults to get their jab has blown out of the water the suggestion that people in their 20s might not come forward to protect themselves and their loved ones,” Stevens said.
Across the entire day, the vaccine mania averaged almost 45,000 bookings an hour and more than 750 every minute, quelling any fears that young people might be reluctant to get their jabs.
Around 3m text messages are being sent out in stages this week to young people with instructions on how to book a vaccine appointment.
Dr Emily Lawson, lead for the NHS Covid Vaccination Programme, said: “Hitting one million bookings in a day sends a fantastic signal that getting the Covid-19 vaccine is something that all of us – no matter our age – can value and be excited by and most importantly should get, when our opportunity comes.”