Health leaders in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) have appealed to local people who have booked Covid-19 booster vaccinations as well as first and second doses for after 3 January to cancel appointments and rebook earlier slots to beat the new year rush.

There are currently plenty of appointments available for vaccinations across the BSW region up until the end of Christmas Eve and from Monday 27 December through to Friday 31 December, with some appointments also offered during weekends.

The appeal for people to book into the pre-New year slots comes as the Covid-19 booster vaccination programme continues across BSW.

People can book booster appointments to take place three months after receiving a last dose using the national booking service or by calling 119. Appointments can also be pre-booked if it's been two months since receiving a second dose – the appointment dates offered will be from three months after a second dose. The national booking service has now also opened for 12-15 year-olds to get their second Covid-19 jab as part of the national mission to get people protected against the new Omicron variant. All eligible 12-15s will be able to book their all-important second jab online if they had their first dose more than twelve weeks ago, in line with updated guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published on 29 November. Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group's Director of Nursing and Quality Gill May said:

"We currently have lots of appointments available across many of our vaccination sites between now and the New Year. I would encourage people to take up the offer of a free Covid-19 booster during that period so they can increase their protection against the new Omicron variant as soon as possible. I would also strongly urge anyone who is yet to receive a first or second dose to book an appointment now –

you'll be warmly welcomed by our vaccination team. "People can easily re-book appointments using the national booking system or by calling 119, though please do remember to cancel your original appointment so that slot can be used by someone else." Today saw a pop-up clinic at Stonehenge to make it easy for those marking the winter solstice to get their vaccination. Organised by the Salisbury Plain Primary Care Network with support from English Heritage, 56 people received their jab this morning after sunrise. Visit www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination for information on how to get your booster.