NHS London is taking its vaccination service to the people over the coming week, with mobile centres offering free flu jabs rolling up at football grounds, shopping centres and children’s play schemes across the capital.
Prevention service: the NHS is taking its vaccinations to the people, in shopping centres and play groups
Football fans heading to Fulham’s match against Sunderland at Craven Cottage tomorrow will be offered jabs at the ground.
Parents of two- and three-year-olds can get their children vaccinated against flu at soft play centres across south London next week, too, with Kidspace in Croydon, Cheeky Chimps Soft Play in New Malden and Bertie and Boo Adventure Island in Balham all getting a visit.
Young children get the flu vaccine as a quick, painless nasal spray that takes seconds – and could prevent a hospital stay this winter. It’s a timely reminder: during 2022-2023, more than 6,000 children under the age of five in England were hospitalised due to flu.
The NHS wants to make it easier than ever for eligible Londoners to get protected this winter during what is being called the Big Week of Vaccinations, from November 22 to November 30, offering flu jabs for people while going about their daily lives.
The NHS is urging Londoners to take advantage of these accessible options to protect both themselves and those around them during the winter months.
Last year saw 20% more Londoners admitted to hospital with flu compared to the previous winter, with more than 36,000 of the capital’s hospital beds taken up by patients with the illness.
Painless: the nasal spray is an effective method for young children to receive a flu vaccine
Karen Bonner, Chief Nurse for the NHS in London, said: “We see many hospitalisations every year as a result of flu, so it is vital that people eligible for the vaccine come forward as the flu season has hit us earlier this year.
“If you get vaccinated now, you can be fully protected before the festive period, as the vaccine usually takes two weeks to be fully effective.
“In the Big Week of Vaccinations, it’s easier to get your jab than ever.”
This week, the UK Health Security Agency issued the first Cold-Health Alert of the season. Cold weather can seriously affect the health of people over 65 and those with existing health conditions. This makes it even more important for them to get vaccinated.
The mobile vaccination service will also give patients winter health information and offer Vital 5 health checks. The free checks will measure blood pressure, weight and look at mental health, as well as alcohol intake and smoking habits.
There are more than 3.2million flu vaccination slots ready to book in London via the NHS App or 119.
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I’m very happy to have had my annual flu vaccination, thank you, not so happy at all that the Covid vaccination previously available to those 65-75 years old has been withdrawn this year. Some accountant has worked out that the cost [about £100 each if obtained privately] is more than the potential cost of hospitalisation of those in that group who will now get it badly enough to need care.