A 23-year-old waitress, a 30-year-old construction manager and a 39-year-old supermarket assistant are all playing a key role in the vaccination programme as stars of a council’s campaign to encourage people to get the jab.

Posters line Maidstone town centre, with pictures of young locals and workers, with the phrase: “The Covid vaccine... as essential as you are”.

The banners are part of an effort by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) to get people jabbed.

other actions include a mobile ‘walk-in’ clinic in Mote Park at the FreeWheelin’ FEASTival last month.

Rishi Vadhia, 34, shop manager at Pro, a shoe repairs and dry cleaners in High Street, is featured on a banner, one which is near his shop.

He said: “I have had customers saying ‘wow you’re famous’”.

“I think it’s good to get the vaccine so we can get back to a bit of normality.

“I was always going to get it because it protects you and other people around you. I am looking forward to getting my second one out of the way.”

“People who are in my crowed are all for it, but you do see on social media people who are against it and think it’s a conspiracy and pushing that message.”

Mr Vadhia, a keen traveller, said he was looking forward to going on holiday once more, hopefully to Thailand.

“It would be nice to get on a plane and go somewhere,” he added.

Mr Vadhia has been manager for five years and says the pandemic has been “very hard” for his business.

“We were shut during the lockdowns and then we came back after lockdown and started to rebuild the business.

“For our business we need office workers to come back.”

MBC’s campaign comes as there is concern over the uptake in young people getting vaccine.

The government opened up vaccinations to all over-18s in mid-June.

So far, two-thirds of 18 to 29-year-old have come forward.

On July 19 all Covid-19 government restrictions were dropped but that same day it was announced that people attending nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather in England will need to be fully vaccinated from the end of September.

Overall, more than 85 million doses have now been administered across the UK.

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