All adults can now book a life-saving Covid jab vaccine, NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced today.

Everyone aged 18 and over is being urged to arrange a jab if they have not had one as the NHS Covid Vaccination Programme, the biggest in health service history, begins the final push to protect the country.

The NHS will start to send around 1.5 million texts to people aged 18-20 from tomorrow morning in what Sir Simon called a “watershed moment”.

The NHS is braced for high demand after the first group of people in their 20s to be offered vaccines booked more than one million appointments in a single day.

Tomorrow's milestone comes fewer than 200 days since the NHS made history by delivering the first Covid vaccine outside of a clinical trial to Maggie Keenan in Coventry.

Already, around eight in 10 adults have had their first dose while more than half have had their vital second dose, meaning they have maximum protection from Covid-19.

Latest figures show the NHS in England has delivered over 60 million vaccinations just six months after making history when Margaret Keenan received the approved vaccine in Coventry.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson as thanked NHS staff for their work throughout the pandemic and the vaccine rollout.

He said:“Offering all adults a jab less than 200 days after the programme launched is one of our country’s greatest collective achievements, saving over 14,000 lives so far.

“I cannot thank NHS staff, the Army, volunteers, manufacturers and all those involved in this extraordinary national effort enough.

“Today sees vaccines accelerate in their race with the virus - so now let’s finish the job. If you haven’t yet, come forward and get your jab.”

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: “This is truly a watershed moment: whoever you are, wherever you live, if you are aged 18 or older and you are yet to book your Covid jab, today should be the day you make that happen.

“Only months after delivering the world-first first jab hard working NHS staff have given more than 60 million vaccinations in England alone, saving thousands of lives and giving the entire country hope for a brighter future.

“Extensive planning and the tireless hard work of staff and volunteers have made the NHS vaccine programme an historic success.

“Now we are delivering a final push to protect the country so when your time comes, or if you haven’t done so already, please play your part and come forward to make your first appointment or get your second dose.”

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