QUEUES of over three hours were reported at Kingston's Hawks Road covid vaccine centre yesterday as locals rushed to get their booster jab in time for Christmas.

The long waits came after the government made all over-30s eligible to get their top-up covid-19 jab in a bid to help stop the spread of the Omicron variant over the winter, and ease pressure on the NHS.

People were also able to book an appointment on the National Booking System but due to high demand the system reportedly crashed and the NHS advised those in the queue to try again later "today or tomorrow."

In Kingston borough, walk-in booster jabs are available at the Hawks Road Clinic in East Kingston and the PSM Pharmacy in Surbiton - see the end of the article for the full list with opening hours.

But over the past few days demand has been high at these sites, with long waits to get doses of the vaccine.

At Hawks Road, visitors told Nub News that there were queues of 3 hours on both Sunday and Monday 13 December (yesterday).

Brandon, a Kingston resident who was at Hawks Road yesterday morning, said he and several others at the back of the line decided to leave after being told the news.

"There were two lines to get in, one for appointments, others for walk-ins, but there was no signage, at least not visible from the back of the lines," he told Nub News.

Another visitor who did not wish to be named said staff at the clinic were very informative and honest about the delay.

But Sophie, who went to Hawks Road Clinic yesterday afternoon, only had to wait an hour to get her jab.

"The whole thing probably took just over an hour and a half," she said.

"[It was] really well done, [staff] made sure everyone in the line has their NHS numbers at the ready so there was no holds ups and if you didn't know it, they took you out of queue to help you find it so you didn't back up the queue."

Staff were "really nice," she added, praising their efficiency.

At the PCM Pharmacy in Tolworth, queues for jabs were around an hour and the long waits lasted through the day, according to social media reports.

A photo of the Pharmacy showed people queuing around the block to get their vaccine.

Where are Kingston's walk-in vaccine clinics and when are they open?

Hawks Road Health Clinic, Hawks Rd, Kingston upon Thames KT1 3EW

Opening hours:

- 3.30pm to 7.30pm, Monday 13 December and Friday 17 December 2021

16 + Pfizer walk – in clinics,

- 8.30am to 6.30pm, Wednesday 15 December 2021

PSM Pharmacy, 388 Ewell Rd, Tolworth, Surbiton KT6 7BB

16 + Pfizer and 2nd dose – Moderna walk – in clinics

- 1pm to 6.30pm, Wednesday 15 December

Pearl Chemist-Surbiton, 11-13 The Broadway, Surbiton, KT6 7DJ

16 + Pfizer and 2nd dose – Moderna walk – in clinics