The booster vaccine campaign was expanded by ministers on Saturday night, despite warnings that more restrictions will be needed to prevent tens of thousands of deaths.
The third jabs will be open to people in their 30s from Monday in England. Those who had their second jab three months ago will be eligible.
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There were 633 new Omicron cases detected in the UK.
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It follows a warning from leading scientists that failure to impose tougher Covid restrictions could lead to a further 25,000 to 75,000 deaths over the next five months. The researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine predicted that a huge wave of infections would sweep the nation in January. By the end of April next year, this could lead to 175,000 hospital admissions and 24,700 deaths.
Under their most pessimistic scenario, there could be up to 75,000 deaths and a total of 492,000 hospital admissions, which is almost twice as high as the peak of hospitalisations that were seen in January 2021. It would put a struggling hospital under a lot of strain.
The team behind the study said the outcome will be dependent on how well the Omicron variant escapes vaccine protection and how effective booster jabs are at restoring protection against the virus.
The co-leader of the study said that they may have to endure more stringent restrictions to ensure the health service is not overwhelmed. Booster jabs are vital, but may not be enough. Last-resort measures may be required to protect health services.
Senior behavioural experts questioned the government's chances of successfully imposing new restrictions on the public. They warned that the reports of the Downing Street parties have caused a lot of anger and resentment.
Linda Bauld, a professor of public health at Edinburgh University, said that it is difficult to re-apply restrictions because people are tired. Trust has been eroded to a very significant level and now it is going to be even harder. People are fed up with the government. Why would you do what the government asked you to do if you don't trust it?
Bauld said it was likely that more people would disobey rules if they were asked to limit numbers indoors. Many people will say that they are fed up with the government and want to see their friends and family, so they will ignore the rule.
The government is under intense pressure from its own backbenchers over the plan B measures.
Boris Johnson faces his biggest ever parliamentary rebellion on Tuesday, meaning that the restrictions are likely to be codified in law with Labour's support.
The rebellion will make it harder for Johnson to impose further measures. It was necessary to see what effect the measures already imposed had on the virus.
The UK Health Security Agency reported on Saturday that there had been an additional 633 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant. The number of confirmed cases has increased.
Under 30s will be able to book their booster from Monday, but they are turning to online forums to find vaccination centers that will give them the jab.
The UK community of GetJabbed has over 25,000 members and they are sharing clinics in cities such as London, Manchester, andLiverpool.
Locals in Gerrards Cross lined up on a bitterly cold day to get vaccinations at a mobile vaccination centre. There is a photograph of Maureen McLean.
One poster said that they were offered the jab within five minutes of arriving, without questions about age or living in the area. Some under-40s said they had been vaccinations on Saturday, while another reported getting a jab in Smethwick.
The government was on course to miss its target of giving everyone a booster jab by the end of January, according to Labour. Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said that there was no reason for anyone who was eligible to be turned away. We want to make sure that everyone can enjoy Christmas safely and that we don't endanger the health of our citizens. The booster campaign is the best way to do that.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation guidance states that people aged 40 and over are the ones who should be given the vaccine first.
When you are called, we strongly advise you to get your booster jab as the health service is rapidly mobilising to ensure people are offered life-saving protection as quickly and as safely as possible.
The health chiefs warned that the stress on the service would lead to an impact elsewhere. Chris Hopson, chief executive of the National Health Service Providers, said the health service would do all it could to speed up the booster injections. The government's chief medical officer stressed the complex logistics last week.
The health service is under a wide range of pressures. Our staff can't deliver the impossible. We are now at the stage where we have to prioritize somewhere else because of the new pressure.
Eleanor Riley, a professor of immunology and infectious disease at Edinburgh University, said that Omicron was spreading so fast that people were now very likely to meet someone with it.
A lot of people could end up in the hospital even if the Delta variant of the coronaviruses causes milder symptoms.
