PEOPLE now eligible for Covid booster jabs are being urged to be patient and book their appointments to avoid long queues. 

Queues of people have formed outside some vaccine centres in the region, including at the Arnison Centre, on the outskirts of Durham.

Everyone over the age of 30 is now eligible to book a third dose of the Covid vaccine, while all those aged 18 and over will be able to do so from Wednesday.

Read more: Boris Johnson confirms first UK Covid death linked to Omicron variant

The booster programme is being ramped up amid growing concerns about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Last night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans to offer all adults a booster jab before the end of December.

Professor Neil Watson, who is leading the Covid-19 vaccination programme for the North East and North Cumbria said:  “Across the North East and North Cumbria our vaccine delivery has been brilliant. We have very efficient teams who have worked exceptionally hard over the last year and we’ve had excellent take up.

“The ambitious plan to speed up the offer of the booster will depend on everyone working together to support the programme.

“In particular this means we are asking people to be patient and not to call their GPs about the booster they won’t be able answer your queries.

 “It will take time to offer the vaccine to everyone who becomes eligible and we will be working as hard as we can with the resources we have to vaccinate as many people as quickly as we can.

“We ask that people are patient if they can’t get an appointment as quickly as they would like to keep checking back on the National Booking System.

“Also please show the teams and the volunteers supporting them kindness as we work to ensure the best protection possible for our community.”

The latest figures from NHS England suggest that there are about 17.4 million people in England who had a second dose at least three months ago, and are now eligible for a booster but have not had one yet.

With 18 days left until the end of the year – including Christmas Day and Boxing Day – this means the NHS will have to administer more than 965,000 jabs a day to give boosters to everyone currently eligible.

The NHS in the region described this phase of the roll out as the “most complex and challenging” to date and people are being urged not to call their GPs to ask for appointments. 

An NHS spokesperson said: “Every local area in the region is looking to dramatically increase the number of appointments they have in place for vaccinations.”

There are five large vaccinations centres, 68 primary care network locations and 193 community pharmacy locations which should be booked to use.

In addition, extra mobile and pop up clinics are being organised for local communities and will be advertised locally. These are more likely to support a very localised walk in.

 Over the next week, opening hours for vaccine centres will be extended, although this is aimed as boosters – people who have not yet had their first or second dose are encouraged to book.

The NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book an appointment slot to guarantee their vaccine.

People are being urged to help the NHS by making a booking and not walking into services without and appointment.

A spokesperson said: “Having a booking means that you reserve your time slot and your vaccine, and it will minimise the need to queue and wait, particularly in bad weather.

“It also helps vaccination staff see people as quickly as possible, making the best use of time and creating more capacity to vaccinate others.”

Anyone struggling to get an appointment is encouraged to keep checking back as more appointments are made available on a daily basis.

The vaccine is delivered in two ways – by GP practices calling in patients to clinics and by booking through the national booking system, which is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

Anyone who books an appointment via NBS and then receive another appointment via their GP is asked to cancel the other booking.

Elizabeth Morgan, Director of Public Health for Northumberland and lead director for the Covid-19 vaccination programme, said:

“NHS staff with the help of lots of partners were already working incredibly hard to deliver covid vaccines as swiftly as possible but the threat posed by Omicron is grave.

“Scientists are very concerned about the spread of Omicron due to the speed with which it spreads. We know that two doses don’t provide as much protection as we would like, but thankfully, a booster dramatically improves this.

“That’s why the Government have asked the NHS to prioritise boosters over other routine care.”

“For people who have not yet had a vaccine please don’t forget that it is never too late to get protected and you can take advantage of all the extra appointments that are being made available.”

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