Another new vaccination site in Basingstoke has been revealed as the town's hospital prepares to offer booster jabs.

Basingstoke Hospital will be standing up a Covid-19 'hospital hub plus' site this week to help the vaccination programme.

Also reopening this week will be the vaccine centre at the Hampshire Court Hotel, which The Gazette understands will start giving vaccinations on Sunday.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) chief executive, Alex Whitfield, said: “We’re doing all that we can to support the national vaccination drive and this new hub at Basingstoke hospital will help to deliver even more booster jabs to our local community.

“The new Omicron variant appears to be more easily transmissible even amongst those double vaccinated, and therefore, a booster jab is essential to ensuring the maximum possible protection this winter."

The new hub, located at Basingstoke hospital, will see staff from HHFT vaccinating members of the community as part of the national rollout which aims to offer every adult a booster by the end of the year.

As the most complex and challenging phase of the rollout expands even further and faster, the NHS has asked every local area to dramatically increase the number of appointments they have in place for vaccinations.

Ms Whitfield continued: “Increasing vaccination levels in the community will also help our hospitals and staff be there for everyone that needs our care by reducing pressure on our services.

"Getting the booster is the very best way you can help your local NHS.”

Reacting to the news, Cllr Arun Mummalaneni, who represents Brookvale and Kings Furlong, said: "I welcome the decision to set up a mass vaccination centre at Basingstoke hospital.

"Given the time constraints this is the best solution to deliver out ambitious target," the Conservative councillor continued.

"Basingstoke residents need one badly. Many of my division and ward residents said they are travelling to Reading and Newbury.

"I urge residents to come forward and get booster doses to protect the NHS.

"I am sure and confident of our excellent NHS team to balance the demand of vaccination and essential treatments."

In Basingstoke and Deane, 61,546 people have had their booster jabs as of December 14, which equates to 37 per cent of those aged over 12.

86.1 per cent of the borough's population over the age of 12 have received a first dose, with 79.8 per cent receiving two doses.

It comes as yesterday, the UK recorded a record number of daily Covid cases amid a surge in Omicron infections.

78,610 cases were recorded as of 9am on Wednesday, the highest recorded since the start of the pandemic.

And England's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said that people should prioritise which social interactions they take part in the run up to Christmas.