More than 86 million Covid vaccination appointments booked on NHS online system in first 2 years
Over 86 million Covid vaccination appointments have been made through the NHS national online booking system since its launch two years ago up until earlier this year. The system, managed by NHS England, was introduced in January 2021 to facilitate online and phone bookings for Covid vaccines.
The online national booking service, integrated with the NHS App in December 2022, facilitates vaccine appointments. Over 12% of bookings are now made through the NHS App.
Additionally, the service expanded to include free NHS flu vaccination bookings at pharmacies, resulting in over 207,000 appointments in the last three months.
On 8 June 2021, the busiest day, 1,031,295 appointments were made within 24 hours, averaging almost 43,000 bookings per hour and over 700 per minute.
Helen Clifton, Executive Director of Product Delivery at NHS England, said: “Back in early 2020, no-one could have envisaged that we were about to design and create a system of this scale in such a short timeframe, so we’re immensely proud that the National Booking Service has enabled millions of people to book their jabs quickly and easily.
“The fact that it’s now being used for flu vaccinations is not only testament to its success, but also a great example of existing digital services being adapted and enhanced to meet the needs of patients.”
Health Minister Maria Caulfield said: “Vaccines save lives. Thanks to the efforts of hardworking NHS staff and volunteers, over 140 million vital doses of Covid vaccine have been delivered in England and the National Booking Service has played a crucial role in making it quick and easy to get vaccinated.
“The service has been a huge success and is a fantastic example of how the NHS can make use of technology to improve health outcomes and streamline the experience for patients. "
The online national booking service offers additional features like a check-in app for stewards at vaccination centers and a service for recognising vaccinations administered overseas. A prioritized version of the service is available to 119 call handlers during peak times to prioritize those who prefer booking through the call centre.
This news story has been produced by Chesil Radio's News Team, for more information please visit: https://www.chesilradio.com