As many as 25 million people in the UK have had their booster vaccine or third dose as the public is urged to keep coming forward for the vital jab.

All eligible adults aged over 18 are able to get their lifesaving booster jab from a walk-in vaccination centre or book online through the National Booking Service following updates to the programme this week.

More than 745,000 booster and third doses have been administered in the UK as of 15 December and a total of 25,477,345 million people have had their top-up jabs as the vaccination programme rapidly accelerates.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “One thing is absolutely clear – we have no time to waste in the race between virus and the vaccine. Booster jabs are absolutely critical for strengthening our defences, and today’s milestone of 25 million top-up jabs is a testament to the enthusiasm of people up and down the country who are rolling up their sleeves to get boosted now.

“I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone working on this national mission across all corners of the United Kingdom - from the brilliant NHS and Armed Forces to the tens of thousands of heroic volunteers who have signed up to help with deployment of our booster vaccines.”

Vaccines are the best way to protect people against coronavirus and data from the UK Health Security Agency shows a booster vaccine tops up protection against symptomatic infection from the Omicron variant to around 70 per cent.