Hundreds of thousands of people asked to shield earlier this month are being invited for a coronavirus jab as the NHS vaccination programme gathers further momentum.

Public health officials identified 1.7 million people who are at additional risk from coronavirus earlier this month, with around 600,000 now being invited to book a slot at a Vaccination Centre or pharmacy service. The remainder have already had their jab in the first phase of the programme.

A further 10 vaccination sites, including Reading’s Madejski stadium and a theatre in Basildon, come online this week. It means that people can now pick a slot at 100 large scale vaccination centres or almost 200 pharmacy services across the country.

In total, vaccines are currently being administered at over 1,500 sites across the country including mosques and museums to rugby grounds and cathedrals, with the spread of sites chosen to ensure that more than 98 per cent of the country lives within 10 miles of at least one vaccination service.

The NHS vaccination programme has delivered more than 15 million first doses of the jab in England.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, said: “The NHS vaccination programme is the biggest in health service’s history and continues to go from strength to strength. Hard working NHS staff have already protected more than 15 million of the most vulnerable people against Covid in a matter of weeks.

“However, if you have already been offered a jab, especially if you’re aged 70 or over, but have not taken it up it is not too late. Please come forward so the NHS can protect you against coronavirus immediately.”