Over 50s can now book Covid boosters and flu jabs

Everyone aged 50 and over in the North West can now book their autumn Covid-19 booster and flu vaccine.

The National Booking Service opened for those aged 50-64 on Friday 14 October to book their Covid-19 booster.

It will also trial the ability for some people who are eligible for a flu vaccine to book it online via a new flu National Booking Service.

So far more than 860,000 people have had their autumn booster in just over a month across the North West, most of them being delivered to people aged 65 and over and those most at risk from Covid-19.
 

Read more: Over 65s can now book an autumn Covid boosterPublished: 14 September 2022

More than 3,000 sites are delivering autumn boosters since the campaign began a month ago while the flu jab is being offered at thousands of community pharmacies and GP surgeries across England.

Some people will be able to book a flu jab on the NBS at one of more than 200 sites nationally, including more than 50 community pharmacies in the North West, which are taking part in a national trial of the system for flu bookings following the success of the Covid-19 service during the pandemic. Nationally, pharmacies that offer Covid vaccine bookings on the NBS are able to trial flu bookings and an additional pilot in the North West is allowing pharmacies that don’t offer the Covid-19 vaccine to trial bookings for flu vaccines only on the NBS.

The public can still book flu vaccinations through their GP practice or by visiting a participating community pharmacy. Please call 119 if you need help making an appointment for either jab.

Health leaders warn that due to the nature of the two illnesses, with the flu virus constantly changing and Covid immunity decreasing over time, it is vital that the public gets the latest protection. Vaccinations are quick and easy with appointments only lasting less than 15 minutes with a jab taking only a few seconds.

Regional Director of Commissioning and Senior Responsible Officer for the COVID-19 vaccination programme in the North West, Dr Linda Charles-Ozuzu said: “With the winter period approaching the best way to protect yourselves is to get your flu and Covid-19 vaccinations.

“This year it is easier than ever for all over 50s across the North West to book their flu and Covid-19 vaccinations through the national booking service. We have convenient local locations across the North West for you.”

Around 33 million people in England will be eligible for a free flu vaccine this year, including all primary-age and some secondary-age children, who will be offered a nasal spray.

Approximately 26 million are eligible for an autumn Covid-19 booster as the NHS vaccine lead has warned of a “twindemic” of the two illnesses this winter and urged people to come forward for their jabs.

Flu infections in Australia have prompted NHS bosses to do all they can to prevent a rise in cases in England in the following months by raising public immunity, which experts say has waned due to previous winters where social interaction was limited by Covid-19.

While sites are co-administering the flu and Covid vaccines where possible, people may be required to book two separate appointments for the different vaccines.

Those eligible for the flu jab are:

• people aged 50 and over
• those aged over six months to 49 with a specified health condition
• some secondary school-aged children
• 2 and 3 year olds
• pregnant women;
• primary school-aged children
• those in care homes
• frontline health care workers
• frontline social care staff who do not have access to occupational health schemes
• household contacts of people with weakened immune

In line with JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) advice, those eligible for an autumn Covid booster this year include:

• residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
• frontline health and social care workers
• all adults aged 50 years and over
• persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, as set out in the Green Book
• persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers, as set out in the Green Book