A surge in vaccination bookings has been recorded by the NHS as the government opens up the programme to people in their 30s.

More than 600,000 appointments were booked in just 48 hours, NHS England reports.

Yesterday, hundreds gathered in Canterbury to demonstrate against the measures taken against Covid as part of a world wide day of action.

The national vaccination booking service was opened up to people aged 38 and 39 on Thursday.

Since then, 611,863 first and second dose appointments have been booked at a vaccination centre or local pharmacy-led service.

It comes as The Telegraph today reports a government bid to jab as many as a million a day in order to safeguard summer against the Indian variant.

The Royal College of General Practioners, a network of more than 52,000 family doctors, is reported as expressing concern that the announcement to bring forward second jabs for the over 50s could delay access to younger age groups.

Younger people in their 30s are expected to be invited over the next few days and weeks.

The surge in bookings comes as more than two thirds of people aged 50 and over have been fully vaccinated after receiving both doses.

More than three quarters of those aged 40 to 49 have also received their first doses just a fortnight after they were offered a jab by the NHS.

In all, 30 million people have been protected with a first dose in England, two thirds of the total adult population.

One in three people, around 15 million, have had both doses giving them maximum protection from the virus.

The Government and the JCVI announced on Friday that second dose appointments will be brought forward from 12 to eight weeks for those aged 50 and over who have yet to received theirs.

Nobody needs to contact the NHS.

Those who have their second dose booked in the next 10 days, up to and including May 24, should attend their appointment as planned.

People who should have their second dose brought forward do not need to contact the NHS. The NHS will let them know when they can rebook.

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