If you're 38 or over, you can now have the Covid vaccine

The NHS Covid vaccination programme has moved on this week to the under 40s as people aged 38 and 39 are now being invited to be vaccinated.

The move to the next age group comes alongside nearly three quarters of people aged between 40 and 49 having now had their first dose.

Since the vaccination rollout began in December, nearly 30 million people have been vaccinated with a first dose in England, two thirds of the total adult population.

More than one third of adults have had both doses, meaning they have maximum protection from the virus, with second doses remaining a priority.

Around a million people aged 38 and 39 have been sent text messages that allow them to access the national online booking service.

The online booking system can not be used to book in at any of the local vaccination hubs within the borough. The closest large-scale vaccination site to Rochdale is at the Etihad Campus in East Manchester.

NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis, said: "The success of the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination programme is not by accident but down to the careful planning and precision of NHS staff who have now delivered over 45 million first and second doses in the fastest and quickest vaccination drive in NHS history.

"With nearly three quarters of people in their 40s having already received their first jab, the NHS is opening up to people aged 38 and 39. We must not forget that behind the huge numbers of people jabbed, there has been a huge amount of hard work from our staff, aided by incredible volunteers across the country. We are incredibly grateful for their efforts."

When invited, people will be able to book at one of the Vaccination Centres, pharmacy or general practice sites across the country that are available through the national booking service.

The online booking system can not be used to book in at any of the local vaccination hubs within the Rochdale borough.

Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’, including a web link to the NHS website to reserve an appointment.

People who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead to book their jab.

The Greater Manchester NHS Vaccination Centre at the Etihad Campus in East Manchester is the closest large-scale vaccination site to the borough.

If it is not convenient for you to travel so far for a vaccination, you can opt to wait to be invited to attend one of the local vaccination centres in the Rochdale borough instead.

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Residents in the Rochdale borough in groups one to nine, which includes everyone aged 50 and over, who have not yet had their first dose of a vaccine can phone or email to book in at one of the local vaccination centres.

Residents aged 50 or over, those who have been advised to shield by the government (the clinically extremely vulnerable), people over 16 with long term conditions, carers and health and social care workers who are registered with a GP in the borough (Heywood, Littleborough, Middleton, Milnrow and Rochdale), can book an appointment at one of the four local vaccination centres in the borough by calling 0300 303 0355 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm) or emailing hmrccg.hmr.enquiries@nhs.net.