The NHS has launched a vaccine availability checker for those who want to cut their wait for their second dose.
Anybody over 40 who is waiting for a second dose and had their first jab by mid-May can attempt to rebook their second vaccine to cut their waiting time by up to four weeks.
The change in the time between vaccines is part of the plan to fully protect as many adults as possible before lockdown ends and was a key factor in the decision to delay Step 4 of the roadmap out of lockdown from June 21 to July 19.
Read more: What you need to know about getting your second jab
Two vaccine shots are highly effective in reducing hospital admission from the Delta strain of Covid-19, previously known as the Indian variant. Public Health England data suggests two Pfizer shots offers 96% protection, while two Oxford/Astrazeneca jabs give 92% protection.
First vaccines are now being offered to everybody over 18. All over 40s who received the first dose by mid-May will be offered a second dose by July 19. By this date, all adults will have been offered the first dose and around two-thirds of all adults will have been offered two doses of the vaccine.
Mark Ford, who works for NHS Digital, revealed that a new 'vaccine availability checker' for those who want to bring their second dose forward.
He tweeted: "If you want to bring your second vaccine dose forward, but haven’t because you have to cancel your appointment first… you can use the new availability checker before you cancel to make sure you’ll get an appointment sooner."
There are some slight teething problems with the availability checker, with some reporting that they could not find an earlier vaccine appointment at their vaccine centre, but others managed to secure an earlier slot.
How to book an earlier second vaccine shot through the NHS
Those over 40 who had their first jab by mid-May can rebook their second shot and cut their waiting time by four weeks, which means their waiting time between doses is cut from 12 to eight weeks.
The NHS's availability checker will tell people if they can secure an earlier shot at their chosen vaccine centre. It doesn't show other centres nearby, although people have the option to cancel their second appointment and then check for another one at other centres.
To use the tool, head to the NHS's vaccine booking page and click ' manage my appointments '. Next, click 'Cancel and rebook your appointment'. A screen should pop up which will show availability in the next five days at the vaccine centre your second jab was booked at, if there is any, which will allow you to book a reserve a new second jab appointment before you cancel your existing one.
If no new slots show up, then there are none available for now, and you will have the option to keep the appointment you have booked. Or you can cancel it anyway and search for a new second appointment.
The NHS will be updating the tool over the coming days and working to sort out teething problems with it.
Will I get the same vaccine I had for my first jab?
Yes, anybody rebooking their appointment will be given the same jab they had the first time around; Pfizer, Moderna or Oxford/Astrazeneca.
