Government launches new ad campaign encouraging under-50s to get vaccinated

Television adverts will begin on Monday, with YouTube also providing free ad space

Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire, which is being used as a vaccine centre (PA)

The government is launching a new advertising campaign urging people under 50 years old to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Television adverts will begin from Monday showcasing health workers involved in the vaccination programme – as well as those who have already been jabbed.

It comes as the programme moves into the next phase, with 33.5 million people having received their first dose of the vaccine – over 63 per cent of the UK population.

Over 22 per cent – around 12 million people – have now been given both doses.

The adverts will stress that the vaccination programme is a “collective effort” and are said to feature a “poignant” soundtrack.

In a bid to combat disinformation they will also encourage people to get information about the vaccine only from the NHS website and their GP, so that they can make “informed and evidence-based decisions”.

Royal Mail is also planning to run a special postmark from 6 to 7 May supporting the campaign, while Google, LinkedIn and YouTube will carry the ads free of charge.

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, described the programme as “the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in NHS history”, while vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said it had “so far saved thousands of lives, protecting our loved ones and bringing down infection rates to a point where we can see normality on the horizon”.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “The UK vaccination programme will go down in history as a phenomenal national effort in the battle against COVID-19.

“Vaccines are helping us get back to doing the things we have missed – they protect you and those around you.

“This campaign is a remarkable and poignant reminder of everything we’ve been through as a country and everything we have to look forward to – as well as the tireless efforts of our volunteers, NHS heroes, and the British people.

“Every vaccination gives us hope and I urge everyone to take up the offer of a vaccine when it comes, as we continue on the path back to normality.”