University of Worcester welcomed a new crop of students this week and now the top NHS doctor has urged them to make use of pop-up clinics and get vaccinated before their courses begin.

Over 3,000 new students have enrolled at Worcester’s university and the annual Welcome Week tradition comes to a close this weekend.

Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, has called on new students to get vaccinated during freshers week.

He said: “Starting university is a really exciting time and getting your Covid vaccine means you will be armed with maximum protection against the virus.

“It is fantastic to see the enthusiasm from young people with more than 3.4 million people aged between 18 and 24 already having their first jab.

“With many universities set to run pop-ups and walk-ins throughout the first weeks of term it has never been easier to get protected, so I urge anyone yet to be vaccinated to take up the offer as soon as possible.”

The university has hosted a vaccination centre this week on the ground floor of the Charles Hastings building on Castle Street.

The centre is open today, Saturday September 18, until 6pm and no booking is required.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK said: “We welcome this reminder to students from Professor Powis, which echoes messages from universities to their students that they should make every effort to get vaccinated before the start of the university year.”

He added: “Universities will provide pop-up vaccinations clinics, vaccine buses or easy access to local walk in centres, GPs and pharmacies at the start of term to make getting fully jabbed as easy and convenient as possible.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “Starting university is one of the most significant moments in the lives of millions of people every year – and having your jab could be one of the most important things you do to ensure you get the best out of it.

“The lifesaving vaccine is making the difference in our return to a more normal life thanks to the wall of defence each jab helps build – with 230,800 hospitalisations and 24 million cases prevented.

“I urge everyone who has not yet got the vaccine to do so as quickly as possible, to not only protect yourself but also your new university community.”