With Omicron spreading across the country, Boris Johnson announced in a press conference on Sunday that the third Covide booster vaccine is needed to protect people against the heavily mutated Covid variant

Boris Johnson addressed the nation on Sunday evening, telling viewers that the nation was facing an “emergency in our battle with the new variant,” and that we “must urgently reinforce our wall of vaccine protection” to tackle the spread of Omicron.

Announcing that all adults in England would be allowed to get a third Covid booster shot before the end of December, Mr Johnson moved the vaccination deadline for adults forward by a month as UK top medical experts moved the Covid alert level from three to four.

He also warned that Omicron could impact un-boosted populations, causing more hospitalisations, pressure on the NHS and thus “very many deaths”.

When will the Covid booster jab be offered to over-30s?

People aged 30 and over will be able to book a Covid-19 booster jab from Monday, December 13, in England. The national booking will open to everyone aged 30 to 39, where they can arrange to get the top-up jab three months on from their second dose.

There are around 7.5 million people aged 30 to 39 in the country, and 3.5 million of those will become eligible for the booster from Monday.

Dr Emily Lawson, head of the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme, encouraged everyone eligible to come forward and get their boosters when it’s their turn.

She said: “Following the updated guidance from the JCVI, which shortened the interval between second and booster doses, NHS staff are redoubling their efforts to protect the public from the virus.

“The NHS vaccination programme, the biggest and most successful in health service history, will from tomorrow offer top-up jabs to everyone aged 30 and over three months from their second jab.”

How to book a Covid booster vaccine appointment if you’re over 30

Bookings to get a third shot of the vaccine can be made by all age groups through the National Booking System, starting with all adults aged over 30 and then all over-18s from Wednesday.

People can also make their booking for the booster one month in advance of becoming eligible for the jab.

Another option, besides the online system, is to use a pop-up or walk-in site, some of which will be made available to over-18s as early as Monday.

New vaccination sites including mobile pop up sites, will be set up around the country, with opening times extended to seven days a week across mornings and evenings with additional weekend availability.

A full list of walk-in sites can be found here, but the government has also advised that people ‘be patient and keep trying,’ – or book online- if all the slots at walk-in venues have already been booked.