UNIVERSITY students have been offered Covid vaccine jabs through "spare capacity" at the BIC, according to health chiefs.

Following an "overwhleming" response to the invitiation to get vaccinated in a walk-in session, the university is asking people to come back tomorrow.

Students have the chance to get their first jab up until Monday, May 24, at the mass vaccination centre between 8am and 4pm.

The offer to Bournemouth University and Arts University Bournemouth's communities comes as across the country people aged 36 and over have been invited to book a vaccine slot.

The vaccine rollout across Dorset is being run by Dorset HealthCare NHS Trust.

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A trust spokesman said it was agreed to offer "students in priority groups" the chance to get a vaccination, however, a statement on Bournemouth University's website on May 18 suggested it was available to all aged over 18.

The Dorset HealthCare spokesman told the Daily Echo: “We continue to give priority access for vaccinations to people in the eligible groups in line with national guidance.

"Working with Bournemouth University we offered spare capacity at the centre to students in priority groups, many of whom are soon to travel home.We have agreed that no further walk-ins will be offered once our capacity is reached.

"The university will be communicating directly with their students about capacity this week.

"We’ve had an overwhelming response to this today with a large number of students attending for their jab. While we’re delighted to be able to vaccinate this many people, this has inevitably caused a considerable queue, which we are managing on site for everyone’s safety.

"Meanwhile anyone in the eligible cohorts who has booked for this week will be expedited through the queue and there are also plenty of slots for them to book next week.”

Capacity for today, May 19, was reached this morning.

A post on BU's Instagram said: "There has been a much larger turnout for the Covid-19 vaccination at the BIC this morning than expected. Students are now being advised to come back tomorrow.

"Please remember that this opportunity will be available until May 24, including over the weekend."