Covid: London launches ‘grab a jab’ campaign for over-18s
Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium is among a string of locations across London that has opened for walk-in vaccinations as part of a major ‘grab a jab’ campaign.
More than 60 pop-up centres, including many walk-in locations, are opening this weekend for all over-18s.
Sites range from community hubs such as the Al Birr Mosque in Leyton to large sports grounds including the Emirates and Charlton Athletic Football Club.
The NHS will soon launch a new online service enabling people to enter their postcode and find their nearest walk-in centre, while text messages will be sent to people living nearby who are yet to receive their first dose.
Second doses will also be available as long as it has been eight weeks since the first dose for people over 40 and 12 weeks for people aged under 40.
The move marks efforts by the NHS to vaccinate everyone after every adult in the country became eligible for a jab last Friday.
More than seven in 10 adults in London have now received their first dose of the jab, with over 3.3m Londoners fully vaccinated after receiving two doses.
Dr Vin Diwakar, medical director for the NHS in London, said: “It is just as important to get vaccinated now as it was on day one of the vaccine being offered, and it has never been easier to walk in and grab your jab than while you are out and about in London this weekend.
“We urge everyone who has not yet had their first dose to find the most convenient walk-in for them this weekend, because the more people who get the life-saving jab, the safer it is for everyone.”