Millions of extra flu vaccines will soon be available

The Department of Health and Social Care has said that more than 30 million people will be vaccinated this year to protect them from flu, with priority being given to the most vulnerable, elderly and children.

To support this, millions of doses of Flublok® have been authorised for supply by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as part of the department’s response to the ongoing public health crisis after it met the standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.

The vaccine has been used in the United States for the last three years. A physically and biologically similar vaccine, Supemtek, was recommended for approval by the European Medicines Agency in September 2020. All vaccines, including Flublok®, undergo three stages of clinical trials and are assessed by the regulator for safety, effectiveness and quality before they are given to patients.

Flu can have serious consequences and vulnerable people can die of it. Having the vaccine protects you, and helps reduce transmission to others. This winter more than ever, with coronavirus still circulating, we need to help reduce all avoidable risks. Vaccinating more people will help reduce flu transmission and stop people becoming ill.

Professor Jonathan Van Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said: “As we approach the winter and cases of Covid-19 continue to rise, it is crucial we double down on efforts to vaccinate as many people as possible from flu. We have increased the number of people eligible for free flu jabs this year to reduce all avoidable risks and protect people from illness.

“Flublok has been in regular use in the United States – and the evidence shows that it is an excellent product. I want to reassure everyone that all vaccines have undergone robust clinical trials and rigorous checks by the regulator to ensure they are safe, effective and of a high quality.”