All adults in England are expected to be able to book a COVID jab “by the end of this week”, the head of the NHS has said.

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS in England, said the health service would “finish the job” of vaccinating people to the “greatest extent possible” over the next month.

He told the NHS Confederation conference: “It is now very important that we use the next four weeks to finish the job to the greatest extent possible for the COVID vaccination programme, which has been a historic signature achievement in terms of the effectiveness of delivering by the NHS – over 60 million doses now administered.

“By July 19 we aim to have offered perhaps two-thirds of adults across the country double jabs.”

He said that from today 23 and 24-year-olds would be able to book an appointment.

“I expect that by the end of this week, we’ll be able to open up the National Booking Service to all adults age 18 and above,” added Sir Simon.

“Of course, vaccine supply continues to be constrained, so we’re pacing ourselves at precisely the rate of which we’re getting that extra vaccine supply between now and July 19.”

Nearly 41.7 million people in the UK have had first dose, while nearly 30 million have had both.

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