NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard joined over 17 million people in England by taking her Covid-19 booster dose on Monday (December 6) whilst encouraging people to take their top-up jab.
The NHS boss got a dose in each arm as she also received her flu vaccine from pharmacist Bhaveen Patel at the Junction Pharmacy in Brixton.
Pritchard later posted a video on Twitter, thanking the team in the south London community pharmacy.
Ahead of the first anniversary of the NHS delivering the first Covid-19 vaccine in the world on Wednesday (December 8), Pritchard thanked the “incredible efforts” of NHS staff and volunteers who worked hard to protect millions of people.
Almost 100 million jabs have been delivered in England since December 8, 2020, including over 17 million booster vaccines.
Expressing her delight after taking the booster dose, Pritchard said: “The booster jab was quick, easy and I now have extra protection against the virus.”
She added: “Pharmacies across the country are playing a key part in the rollout and they are making every contact with patients count.
“The pandemic, sadly, isn’t over and the new Omicron variant must act as a call to arms for those who haven’t yet had their jab.”
Explaining the future plan to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, she said, “at NHS we are really ramping up our vaccination programme to be able to offer everybody eligible a chance to book a jab by the end of the January.”
Pritchard strongly urged people to get their Covid jabs. “When it’s your turn, please do come forward and book as it is the best thing you can do as I already have today, to get that vital additional protection from the virus.”
People in eligible group will be contacted when it is their turn to get vaccinated.
Staff at almost 3,000 vaccination sites across the country – including pharmacies, GPs, sports stadiums and places of worship – are administering jabs to the people.
In the past month, the NHS has rolled the programme out to nearly 300 more pharmacies, making 1,300 more of them to offer vaccinations compared to February.
Cat Smith, Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre