NHS doctors are urging those eligible to get their free covid-19 and flu vaccinations to help reduce the impact of winter viruses.
Winter protection: vaccinations for flu and covid are available from the NHS
From today, people at risk across London will start receiving their winter vaccinations, providing vital protection from developing serious illnesses and ending up in hospital during busy winter months.
People who are aged 65 and over, pregnant, or have underlying health conditions are eligible for flu and covid-19 vaccinations – as are those working in frontline health or social care.
Dr Tehseen Khan, who works as GP and clinical adviser in London, said, “The flu and covid-19 vaccines can be life-saving and are our best defence against these viruses.
“The injectable flu and covid-19 vaccines do not contain pork derived products, and it takes just a few minutes to book online or via the NHS App or 119, where an interpreter is available if needed.
“So, I urge everyone eligible to do so, to protect themselves and people around them.”
For more information go to nhs.uk/wintervaccinations
Those eligible this year include:
For a flu vaccine:
- those aged 65 years and over
- those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
- those in long-stay residential care homes
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants.
Those eligible for a winter covid-19 vaccination are:
- residents in a care home for older adults
- all adults aged 65 years and over
- persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women
- frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults
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