People over the age of 70 who have not yet been offered a Covid jab are being encouraged to contact the NHS to arrange an appointment.

The health service in England has changed its messaging from “we will contact you” to “contact us” for those over the age of 70.

It comes as the Government is just days away from saying whether or not it has met its target for offering all people in the top four priority groups the Covid jab before the middle of February.

The priority list, set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, currently has nine groups in it.

At the moment the focus remains on the top four groups which include all those over 70, health and social care workers, care home residents, their carers and people deemed to be clinically extremely vulnerable to the virus.

The Prime Minister set a target for all the people in these group to be offered a Covid-19 vaccine by February 15.

In order not to overwhelm the NHS the initial messaging to the public was to wait until the NHS contacted them about their vaccine.

But the health service is now calling for those aged over 70 who have not yet been vaccinated against Covid-19 to contact the NHS to arrange a jab.

They can book their appointments using the website www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or those unable to get online can call 119.

If a suitable and convenient slot is not available people can also call their GP practice.

The latest data, valid until January 31, shows that in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, almost 93 per cent of people aged 80 or over have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, whilst for people aged 75 to 79, the number stands at 86.2 per cent.

For people aged between 70 and 75, 19.5 per cent have received their first dose.

In north and mid Hampshire, there are currently eight vaccination sites.

The region's three hospitals, Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester, are all vaccination hubs, whilst Basingstoke Fire Station, Hampshire Court Hotel in Chineham and The Lights theatre in Andover are also vaccinating people.

Additionally, Superdrug in Basingstoke is carrying out vaccinations, as is Holiday Inn in Winchester.