I’d say 40s will start being invited before the end of the month.
As has been said, the national booking system starts adding people behind the scenes from before the front page updates...it has to, as otherwise, people couldn’t actually book. They are whizzing now and the fact that some people are slow in responding to their invitations, won’t make them hold up the system. They expect there to be a bit less uptake from younger people as they perceive the risk to be less to themselves, plus many will intend to get it, but just take a bit longer to get in and book. And during that time, they just open it up to the next cohort too.
So as we move through, we will see a wider range of ages being done at once, although it has been available first based on age. So now, the keen upper 50s who booked before the front page updated are being done alongside a number of lower and upper 60, depending on when they booked. Plus of course there are regional variations and we know some areas are beyond the upper 50s already.
I’d expect lower 50s to be able to access the system in a week or 10 days and the older 40s by the end of the month. But yes, they might not actually be jabbed then and need to wait 2 or 3 weeks.
But actually, much of this is moving faster than people imagined and lots are surprised to get a letter or see the website is allowing them to book, so it could keep moving faster than we think.
2nd jabs have already been allowed for. Those who booked via the national system already have their slot. Those booking via GP localised services (often Group 4,6 and the elderly) will be given their slots. A useful post on the thread about 2nd jabs from someone who knows how the GPs manage it, said that the GP services (often in community centres etc) will receive the same jab as they had 11 weeks before, so that those first jabbed can be given it. There is some storage time, so it all works out. Apparently 77-84 days after first jab is the recommended time frame. Others have mentioned that it doesn’t matter if there is a small delay as it is essentially only a booster.
The logistics behind it all are amazing. Just getting the vaccine to the right places, when there are so many is incredible. And then there’s the understanding of the public and how some people are keen and will queue outside centres for left overs, some will check the website and see if they can book before pages are updated, some will book when the website updates, some will book when they get their letter, some will need a follow-up from GP and some will need multiple follow-ups.....and that it’s all in place to help as many as possible get the jab, is just amazing. I’m in awe of it all.