The United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) has advised people to book slots for COVID-19 booster shots later or tomorrow
as extremely high demand caused shortages of rapid lateral flow tests.

According to the Guardian, the government
website on Monday said “there are no more home tests available” and advised
people to “try again later” or to book a test site appointment instead. The
surge in interest came after the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced
everyone over 18 in England “will have the chance to get their booster before
the new year” in a dramatic acceleration of the vaccination campaign.

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In a tweet, the health service said, “The
Covid vaccine booking service is currently facing extremely high demand so is
operating a queuing system. For users aged 18-29, please be aware that booking
opens on Wednesday, December 15. For all others experiencing waits, we would
advise trying again later today or tomorrow.”

It came on the first day that people aged
between 30-39-year-olds in the UK can officially book the jab. The NHS website
has already booked more than 140,000 vaccine appointments on Monday, NHS
Digital said, with people waiting several minutes.

Also Read: UK to start booster jabs for 30 and above

Although the booking system does not open
for those under the age of 30 years until Wednesday, Johnson said on Sunday
night some would be able to use walk-in centres as early as Monday.

There are also shortages of rapid lateral
flow tests to be used in the home, with users of the NHS booking website
saying, “Sorry, there are no more home test kits available right now. Try again
later.”

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The shortage came after health officials
announced over the weekend that double-jabbed people identified as a contact of
someone with COVID-19 in the UK would be told to take a daily rapid test for
seven days from Tuesday.

On Monday, Matthew Taylor, the chief
executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents the healthcare system in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the
booster goals were “ambitious”.

Also Read: New UK mask rules start as PM Boris Johnson under fire over parties

“The health service was already under
unprecedented pressure, and this is going to mean that other important parts of
the NHS’s work are going to have to be put on the back burner in order to be
able to deliver this,” he said.

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“It’s really important the government is
clear with the public about the consequences this is going to have for what the
rest of the health service is going to offer.”