A UNIVERSITY student and Green Party member is encouraging young people to get the vaccine 'to protect those around them'.

According to the NHS there has been a huge surge in vaccine bookings after the rollout was expanded to 25 to 29-year-olds in England.

On Tuesday, half a million jabs were booked in a rush likened to the annual scramble for Glastonbury tickets.

NHS England said nearly 500,000 appointments had been reserved by midday on Tuesday - mere hours after eligibility was widened to the over 25s age group.

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: “This encouraging Glastonbury-style rush for appointments has already now seen hundreds of thousands of people between 25 and 29 book in for their NHS Covid jabs, as more vaccine supplies continue to come on line.

“Pleasingly this suggests strong enthusiasm for vaccination amongst people in their 20s, following hard on the heels of the millions of others who’ve already taken up our offer.”

However, in a Facebook poll conducted by the Worcester News found that 31 percent of the 218 people who responded would not be taking the vaccine.

142 people said they would take or have already had the life saving vaccine, but 68 said they would not be booking on. Figures that local 21-year-old Green Party candidate Tor Pingree said were 'baffling'.

She said: "I am really shocked and surprised by that. I will be getting my vaccine as soon as I am called up and I can't understand why people wouldn't want to be vaccinated.

"I can only assume from what I have heard from friends that young people may be less concerned about the affects of the virus, but we must still have it, predominately to protect those around us, if not ourselves."

So far the NHS in England has delivered more than 57.8 million vaccine doses to over 75 per cent of adults.