Exmouth: All over-18s can now book to have Covid vaccine

All those over the age of 18 are now eligible to have the Covid-19 vaccination.

According to the NHS booking service, you can get an appointment to have the vaccine if any of the following apply:

- You're aged 18 or over

- You're at high risk from COVID-19 (clinically extremely vulnerable)

- You have a condition that puts you at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)

- You have a learning disability

- You're a frontline health or social care worker

- You get a Carer's Allowance, get support following an assessment by your local authority or your GP record shows you're a carer

To book your appointment, click here to go to the NHS website.

The importance of the second dose

The NHS are encouraging people to have both doses at two separate appointments, with the second dose roughly two to three months after the first.

You can book your second appointment at the same time.

Research shows that the second jab is key to protecting people against the Delta (Indian) variant, with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 96% effective against hospitalisation after two doses, and the Oxford-AstraZeneca 92% effective.

As many as 1.3 million doses of the vaccine have now been delivered in Devon, and 60 million across England.

Devon's Primary Care Medical Director Alex Degan said: "Thanks to the incredible work of NHS staff up and down the country, more than three quarters of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, with over half having received both.

"I am thrilled that in Devon almost 8 in 10 adults have taken up the offer of the jab and 9 in 10 aged over 60 have had both doses. In doing so, they are helping the country as a whole beat this devastating virus.

"The offer of the vaccine remains open, so if you have been invited but are yet to make an appointment, please do so today and bring us one step closer to freedom."