England’s biggest vaccination centre at Twickenham Stadium in west London is offering COVID jabs to anyone over the age of 18 for today only.

Thousands of people have already been given a vaccine dose at the coronavirus vaccination centre, and the local NHS trust said they could now open it up to all adults.

It tweeted: “Still spaces and vaccine left: now open to all 18 and over who can get here before 7.30pm!”

Government guidelines say only people over the age of 30 are eligible for the jab but medics offered it to all adults in an effort to ensure nothing is wasted.

Thousands of people vaccinated at @twickenhamstad today. Still spaces and vaccine left: now open to all 18 and over who can get here before 7.30pm!

Up to 15,000 Pfizer vaccine doses have been made available as part of the “Let’s Tackle COVID” event at Twickenham Stadium, which has been running from 10am to 8pm.

The event was initially only offering first doses to eligible members of the public in the London boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster.

But by 2.30pm, organisers said anyone over 18 could turn up for a jab.

Several local boroughs began surge testing earlier this month after multiple cases of the Indian variant were discovered.

Hounslow in particular had been identified as a hotspot for the new variant, which is believed to be more transmissible and could delay the 21 June reopening in England.

A spokesperson for Twickenham Stadium said they were “proud” the venue was supporting one of the “biggest walk-in vaccination events” in England.

Scotland international rugby union player Rory Hutchinson was among those who queued up for a jab, saying afterwards it was the “right thing to do”.

“It was a really smooth process. I thought they were very professional. It was easy to find. I walked straight in and got my vaccine done. Then just had to wait a short while to make sure I was OK,” the 25-year-old said.

“I think we have been through a really tough time recently and hopefully we are on the mend now. I am just doing what I can to support that.”

Student Flo Flake-Parsons, 24, also turned up for a vaccine and said there were no queues by the time she got her jab in the afternoon.

“It has been a really rubbish time for everyone and this is a good step back towards normality,” she said.

Related posts:

Brown stink bugs spotted in UK – fruit growers and winemakers on alert Former prisoner told London Bridge victim she was ‘beautiful and loved’ as she lay dying – inquest MPs call for vote on potential inquiry into Boris Johnson’s ‘lack of truthfulness’ Wales to further relax COVID restrictions as infection rate continues to fall ‘The best party ever’: DJ Annie Mac to step down from Radio 1 after 17 years Hate Won’t Win: Sky Sports and BBC Sport stars unite to fight against online abuse Woman raped in layby after investigating empty child seat by road Port security guard among seven arrested after 1.2 tonnes of cocaine found in banana shipment Cutting self-isolation period from 10 days to seven would only be safe on one condition, expert says Government advisers recommend jab for vulnerable five to-11 year-olds Unjabbed midwife criticises COVID vaccine mandate and says expectant mothers support her stance Mother of strangled six-year-old boy ‘had an interest in murders and unsolved crime’