NHS London’s Chief Nurse, Karen Bonner, has kick-started the capital’s flu vaccination season with a walk-in jab at the Crystal Child Development Centre in Croydon.
Quick and easy: Chief Nurse Karen Bonner had her flu vaccination in Croydon this week
It took just a few minutes, proving how quick and easy it is for Londoners to get protected this winter.
Flu kills thousands of people across the country every year, and vaccination remains the best defence. “Don’t wait to get protected,” is the messaging from the NHS.
Flu viruses change every year, so last year’s jab will not protect you this winter. The vaccine takes around 14 days to become fully effective, so early action means being protected before winter.
Last winter, flu reached unprecedented levels. In London, an average more than 300 hospital beds on average were occupied by patients with flu each day. Vaccination proved essential – nearly 2.1million Londoners received the jab, helping to prevent an estimated 7,100 deaths across the country.
“I urge all eligible Londoners to get vaccinated by booking an appointment or visiting a walk-in site as soon as possible,” Chief Nurse Bonner said.
“Vaccination is the best protection against becoming seriously ill, both for yourself and those around you, and it helps reduce the mounting pressure on the capital’s NHS services this winter.
“Flu is far more serious than a bad cold.
“Every winter, thousands of children need hospital care because of the virus, while pregnant women are also at greater risk of becoming seriously unwell. Anyone can carry and spread flu without ever showing symptoms themselves, which is why vaccination matters even for those who feel healthy.
“Side effects of having the vaccination are typically mild, such as a sore arm or slightly raised temperature for a day or two, and far less severe than flu itself.”
The flu vaccine has been available to children since last month, as the virus spreads quickly among younger age groups. Most school-aged children are vaccinated at school, while parents of two- and three-year-olds, or children in a clinical risk group, will be invited to book through their GP. Vaccinating children also helps protect others at greater risk, including babies, grandparents and pregnant women.
Pregnant women can get vaccinated at any stage of pregnancy via their maternity team, GP or a participating pharmacy. The vaccine is also recommended for anyone living with immunosuppression, and for older people, who face a greater risk of serious illness from flu.
Check your eligibility by clicking here, and find pharmacies for walk-in vaccination appointments by using the NHS walk-in finder.
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