The NHS website for booking Covid-19 vaccine appointments has crashed after Boris Johnson announced all over 18s could get their booster jabs from Wednesday December 15.
It is understood that some people are struggling to get on the NHS booking website.
Some visitors to the site on Sunday evening had the error message: “The NHS website is currently experiencing technical difficulties.
“We are working to resolve these issues. Thank you for your patience.”
Others were placed in a virtual queue: “You are in a queue. Lots of people trying to book an appointment.”
Read more: UK Covid Alert Level increased from Level 3 to Level 4 - what does it mean?
The government has brought forward its target to vaccinate all adults by one month.
The new target means anyone aged 18 and over who has had their second dose at least three months ago is now eligible to get a booster.
The NHS tweeted: "Booking your COVID-19 #booster.
"If you’re aged 40 or over and had your second dose over 2 months ago, book now at http://nhs.uk/covid-booster.
"If you’re aged 30 or over, you can book online from tomorrow. People aged 18 or over can book online from Wednesday. #GetBoosted."
Booking your COVID-19 #booster 👇
— NHS (@NHSuk) December 12, 2021
If you’re aged 40 or over and had your second dose over 2 months ago, book now at https://t.co/UwmZcOuvpd
If you’re aged 30 or over, you can book online from tomorrow.
People aged 18 or over can book online from Wednesday.#GetBoosted
Mr Johnson said: "I'm afraid we're now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant Omicron.
"It is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need. But the good news is that our scientists are confident that with a third dose, a booster dose, we can all bring our level of protection back up."
He added: "At this point our scientists cannot say that Omicron is less severe.
"And even if that proved to be true, we already know it is so much more transmissible that a wave of Omicron through a population that was not boosted would risk a level of hospitalisation that could overwhelm our NHS and lead sadly to very many deaths."
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