People aged 75 and over invited to book a Covid vaccine at Milton Keynes Hospital

Until now vaccines in MK have been prioritised for the over 80s, care home residents and staff, frontline worker or people who are clinically vulnerable.

Today, for the first time, the programme has been extended to people over the age of 75.

People should not call if they are displaying Covid symptoms or are self-isolating or if they have had a flu vaccination less than seven days ago.

They should also be able to make their own way to the hospital as hospital transport is unavailable.

Callers should have their NHS number to hand and take ID with them on the day.

Appointments will take between 30 and 45 minutes and will be held at the Academic Centre, which is located opposite the hospital main entrance and next to the multi-storey car park.

Meanwhile second vaccines are still postponed for the people who have already had a first jab of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at the hospital.

Hundreds of MK over 80s and keyworkers have already had the first vaccination and were told they had to return for the second after three weeks.

But last week the government announced this second dose could be given up to three months later, instead of three weeks

There is evidence to show the first dose offers "considerable protection" and that a longer interval could even provide stronger and longer-lasting immune response, say health experts.

The delay is now allowing the NHS to use the doses and staff time to give a first vaccine to as many people in priority groups as possible.

Meanwhile the newly-authorised AstraZeneca (Oxford) vaccine is being deployed. This is administered in two doses, with the second dose given between four and 12 weeks after the first.

Nationally, more than 100,000 people have signed a petition in protest of the UK’s decision to delay second vaccine shots

The decision has sparked concern amongst experts, healthcare professionals and the vaccine producers themselves.

In a joint statement, Pfizer and BioNTech said: “The safety and efficacy of the vaccine has not been evaluated on different dosing schedules as the majority of trial participants received the second dose within the window specified in the study design.

“There is no data to demonstrate that protection after the first dose is sustained after 21 days.”

Experts from the World Health Organisation have also expressed concern, highlighting that there is no scientific evidence for a delay of more than six weeks in administering the second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against Covid.

Debbie Oliver, an advanced nurse practitioner in Lancashire, started her change.org petition just a few days ago and it’s being shared widely across social media in a sign of public concern on the issue.

Debbie said: "We want the UK Government; Matt Hancock and NHS England to vaccinate frontline workers/vulnerable public with the evidence based dosing regime as per vaccine schedule not one they decide is better.

“We want 94 per cent from Pfizer vaccine not 52 per cent from one dose for 3 weeks only to be gambling with people's lives after week three in the misguided hope half protection is better than none.

“UK Government you are letting down all those who put their lives on the line (and those who lost lives). Do the right things and put back the correct dosing regime as per study data."