The NHS vaccination programme will offer every adult in the North West the chance to book a Covid-19 booster vaccine by the end of the year in a race to protect the region against the Omicron variant.

As part of the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in health service history, online bookings are now available for all those aged 30 and above and will open up to everyone aged 18 and over from Wednesday this week.

The NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital jab. Some vaccination sites may offer a walk-in service for people who are18 and over from tomorrow if they have spare capacity.

As the most complex and challenging phase of the rollout expands even further and faster, the number of sites are set to increase and opening hours for vaccine centres will be extended and this will be part of the seven day service in every area of the region.

There are now more than 300 sites across the North West region – more than at any point of the NHS covid-19 vaccination rollout.

More pop-up sites will be coming online across the region to increase convenience for local communities including at Chester Cathedral from December 15, which is in the heart of the city’s Christmas markets and at Blackburn Hospital from December 16.

The North West is aiming to have capacity to vaccinate up to 100,000 people a day when plans to scale up the vaccination are complete – more than the current record at 88,661 jabs.

GP teams will be asked to clinically prioritise their services to free up capacity to support the covid-19 vaccination programme, alongside delivering critical appointments such as cancer, urgent and emergency care. This might mean that for some people, routine appointments are postponed as part of the national mission to roll out boosters.

Dr Linda Charles-Ozuzu, Regional Director of Commissioning for NHS England and NHS Improvement and Senior Responsible Officer for the Vaccination Programme in the North West is urging people to not delay getting their booster jabs when eligible.

She said: “With increased threat from the new Omicron variant, we’re quickly expanding our vaccination programme to protect as many people as possible, focusing on topping up protection with booster jabs.

“Thanks to the NHS staff local partners and volunteers who are working incredibly hard to scale up our vaccination efforts, we’ve already delivered more than 12.5 million vaccinations, including 2.4 million boosters.

“If you’re aged 18 and over and it’s been 3 months since your second dose, don’t delay getting your booster jab to make sure you and your loved ones are protected this winter.”

Following the launch of a recruitment drive last week, the NHS is continuing to encourage people to come forward and help the NHS to save lives either as a volunteer or in a paid role in the programme.

NHS staff will also be redeployed so that they can focus on protecting everyone as quickly as possible and military aid will be in place in the region to support NHS staff with planning for the extra vaccinations.

The best way to get your booster quickly is by booking online at www.nhs.uk/book-a-coronavirus-vaccination/do-you-have-an-nhs-number or by calling 119 but if walk in centres have capacity to do so, they can vaccinate adults aged 18 and over immediately. Find a local walk in site at www.england.nhs.uk/north-west/grab-a-jab.