This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Comprehensive flu programme to be rolled out this winter
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that providers will work to vaccinate more than 30 million people during this flu season – millions more than received it last year.
The expanded flu vaccination programme to protect vulnerable people and support the NHS will see a significant new group become eligible for the free flu vaccine as people aged 50 to 64 will be invited later in the season for a vaccination.
A free flu vaccine will also be available to: people who are on the shielded patient list and members of their household; all school year groups up to Year 7; and people aged over 65, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing conditions.
The expanded flu vaccination programme is part of plans to ready the NHS – both for the risk of a second peak of coronavirus cases, and to relieve winter pressures on A&E and emergency care. The announcement comes alongside the £3 billion for the NHS announced by the Prime Minister earlier this month to relieve winter pressures on A&E and emergency care in case of a second spike in infections.
All frontline health and social care workers will also be urged to get their free vaccine to protect themselves and their patients or residents from the flu.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “It’s mission critical that we pull out all the stops to get ready for winter, and the Prime Minister has already announced £3 billion to protect the NHS. We are now taking another important step to help protect the wider public by giving the flu vaccination to more people than ever before. This will be the biggest flu vaccination programme in history, and will help protect our NHS as we head into winter. If you are eligible for a free vaccine, whether it’s for the first time or because you usually receive one, then I would urge you to get it, not just to protect yourself, but to protect the NHS and your loved ones, from flu.”
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