London’s pharmacies are protecting the capital against a surge in winter illnesses, having already delivered more than half a million vaccinations this autumn.
Vax pop: flu vaccinations for children are free on the NHS
The NHS in London is urging the public to make use of vaccination services available at local pharmacies, where 161,000 covid and 345,000 flu jabs have already been provided ahead of winter.
More than 36,000 London hospital beds were taken up by patients with flu this time last year.
This week has been designated Ask Your Pharmacist Week. “The NHS in London has a strong ambition to make vaccines readily accessible and convenient for eligible people, whether via GPs, community clinics or local pharmacies,” said , Jacqueline Walker, NHS London’s operational director of covid-19 and influenza vaccination programmes.
“Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are highly skilled professionals who are trusted by Londoners not only to provide medicines but to deliver clinical care to communities, including vaccinations to prevent ill health.
“We see many hospitalisations every year as a result of flu, so it is vital that people eligible for the vaccine come forward before winter viruses start to circulate more widely.”
The free NHS flu vaccine is available for everyone aged 65 and over, under 65s in clinical risk groups, care home residents and carers, close contacts of those who are immunosuppressed, frontline social care workers, and health and social care staff, as well as children and pregnant women.
There are 751 pharmacies across the capital delivering the flu vaccination to two- to three-year-olds, allowing London parents to protect their toddlers from getting seriously ill.
The flu vaccine is given to young children as a quick, painless nasal spray, and is an easy way of winter-proofing NHS services. During 2022-2023, more than 6,000 children under the age of five in England were hospitalised due to flu.
Community pharmacies are here for Londoners this winter.
- You can check patient eligibility by clicking here
- And you can find pharmacies for walk-in appointments by clicking here to use the NHS walk-in finder
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