Coronavirus jabs will be on the bill as the NHS vaccination programme sets up camp at Reading and Leeds festivals this coming weekend.

NHS England has said that the Bank Holiday initiative means music fans at the split site event will be able to pick up a jab easily.

The country’s top GP, Dr Nikki Kanani, urged the hundreds of thousands music fans attending the events to protect themselves and others by adding the ‘vaccine tent’ to their festival itinerary if they have not already been jabbed.

Both sites will offer the opportunity to speak to health professionals who will be able to answer any questions or concerns. Anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be given the vaccine.

The announcement comes as new figures show more than half a million 16 and 17 year olds in England have now had their jab.

Kanani said: “Thanks to the hard work of NHS staff and volunteers more than half a million young people aged 16 and 17 have had their first dose as teams across the country have worked tirelessly to get their communities protected, vaccinating at convenient pop up clinics in the park, at places of worship and stadiums and now at Reading and Leeds.

“It is great to see the return of live music and performances, and as festival goers head to the main stage this weekend to see their favourite headliners, I am also urging anyone who hasn’t to add the ‘vaccine tent’ to their festival itinerary to get that lifesaving vaccine as the best protection we can get from coronavirus.”

NHS staff have now delivered more than 75 million vaccinations, including to half a million 16 and 17 year olds with almost four in five adults now double vaccinated.