Business

Asda and National Express are among a number of firms set to offer rewards to young people getting a COVID jab.

Free Now taxis, lastminute.com and Better leisure centres will also offer incentives for those booking in for a vaccine.

Uber, Bolt and Deliveroo have already said they will offer discounted rides and meals for customers who get the jab to help boost vaccine uptake.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said Asda will offer £10 vouchers for their clothing brand George to vaccinated 18-year-olds who spend over £20.

Travel company lastminute.com will offer over-18s £30 gift cards towards holidays abroad for people getting vaccinated.

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Better leisure centres will offer over-16s a £10 voucher to use on any Better membership and a free three-day pass at any of their leisure facilities across the UK.

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Taxi-hailing app Free Now will provide up to £1m in free rides for over-18s attending their vaccine appointment each way from Sunday until the end of September.

National Express Buses in the Midlands will offer 1,000 people five-day unlimited travel saver tickets which can be used within 90 days.

Deliveroo has revealed further details of their support, including thousands of £5 vouchers to those who get the vaccine and will distribute those in the coming weeks, the DHSC said.

Bolt will offer £10 vouchers for 10,000 rides from next week in Birmingham and Leicester, and Uber is expected to announce further details around their drive to help students get vaccinated ahead of term time.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “It is fantastic to see more companies backing the phenomenal vaccine rollout and joining the public as they do everything they can to continue protecting their loved ones, themselves, their community and this country.

“With over 84,000 lives already saved and 23 million infections prevented by the vaccines, get the jab as soon as possible and take advantage of these excellent offers – whether that’s for taxi rides, gym passes, or trips away with family and friends.”

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On 14 August, another 46,603 people were given the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 199,584 received their second.

This means that 47,302,445 people have had at least one dose, while 40,577,198 – or 76.7% of adults – are double-jabbed.

Mr Javid said on Sunday that all 16 and 17-year-olds in England will be offered their first coronavirus vaccine by 23 August so they can build maximum immunity before returning to school in September.