Get vaccinated and boost your winter protection

This wintertime, both of those COVID-19 and flu may possibly circulate at superior degrees, potentially at the very same time.

Forward of what could be a difficult period, tens of millions of people are being provided vaccination to support safeguard them around the coming months.

There is proof to present that if you get flu and COVID-19 at the same time you are at increased threat of turning into very seriously unwell. As this is the very first winter season considering that COVID-19 emerged without having limitations in position, the greatest way to shield on your own from getting unwell from either is to get vaccinated.

We are urging all suitable people to get vaccinated as quickly as feasible to enhance their defense in opposition to these viruses, which also allows to secure other people and the NHS.

Why do we get vaccinated on a yearly basis for flu?

Every calendar year, the flu season is unique. Distinctive strains of flu flow into and the figures of folks who get flu fluctuate. This indicates we need a little bit unique vaccines every yr.

To style the vaccine for just about every new year, experts search at the accomplishment of the prior year’s vaccine, data from earlier flu seasons and surveillance from all around the globe displaying which strains are building individuals unwell.

All this data is utilised to determine which strains go into the future vaccine, giving the very best chance of a significant level of protection.

Flu is unpleasant for most men and women but it can have severe penalties for some, notably those with selected wellbeing disorders. It can lead to serious ailment and in some conditions be existence threatening.

There was report uptake of the flu jab in people today aged 65 and in excess of in 2021/22 (82%), nevertheless there was decreased uptake amid folks in medical danger groups and pregnant girls and these teams are specifically inspired to occur ahead this yr.

Why is it particularly significant to get vaccinated for flu this winter season?

A lot more folks are expected to get unwell with flu this calendar year as a lot less pure immunity has been created up around the previous couple of winters when flu was stopped from circulating greatly thanks to COVID-19 steps.

Also in the southern hemisphere nations these kinds of as Australia skilled flu circulating earlier than typical in their winter season period.

Youthful youngsters in individual are not likely to have created up any normal immunity to flu, which is why it’s significant that they just take the vaccine this 12 months. It is being made available to children in the form of a fast and painless nasal spray.

In addition to the predicted flu wave, we have early indication that COVID-19 premiums are starting to increase forward of winter season, expanding the risk to people’s well being in a so-named ‘twindemic’ circumstance.

Who is qualified for the flu vaccine?

The yearly flu vaccine is staying offered to:

• Men and women with extended-time period wellbeing ailments
• All those aged 50 and above (beginning from mid-Oct)*
• Pregnant women
• All those in lengthy-stay household households
• Unpaid carers (obtain a carer’s allowance or are the primary carer for an more mature or disabled individual who may well be at danger if the carer will get unwell)
• Shut contacts of immunosuppressed men and women
• Frontline overall health and social care staff who can not get the vaccine via an occupational overall health scheme at get the job done
• All kids aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2022
• All primary college aged little ones and some secondary college aged kids

*If you are in this age group and have a extended-time period health issue that places you at threat from flu, you do not have to wait until eventually mid-October.

There are a number of kinds of flu vaccine. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) evaluations the newest proof on influenza vaccines every 12 months and endorses the sort of vaccine to be supplied to individuals.

Recommended vaccines change according to age.  You will be offered one that is most efficient for you. Little ones aged 2 to 17 years outdated are offered a swift and pain-free nasal spray vaccine.

Why do some persons need a booster in opposition to COVID-19?

COVID-19 vaccination has been offered incrementally subsequent proof that while the vaccines are extremely helpful, immunity wanes in excess of time.

Booster doses appreciably improve immunity and in those people who are most vulnerable to the worst results of COVID-19, receiving a booster will minimize the numbers of folks who require hospitalisation or die.

We are all informed that COVID-19 can result in major ailment and that it is more risky in specified teams, these kinds of as the elderly and individuals with suppressed immune methods.

Considering that scenarios usually increase throughout the winter months, it’s genuinely critical that all people qualified get boosted to up their immunity degrees.

Who is eligible for the COVID-19 booster?

The booster is getting available to:

• Persons aged 5 and over with extended-phrase well being ailments
• All those aged 50 and more than
• Pregnant women
• People in prolonged-stay residential treatment properties
• Unpaid carers
• Near contacts of immunosuppressed people
• Frontline wellness and social treatment gurus

If you are in one particular of these groups, you must be provided an appointment concerning September and December.

People at highest hazard will be termed initial. It really should be at the very least 3 months after your past dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines on give give a pretty high degree of defense towards the virus and greatly decrease the prospects of an individual getting to be seriously unwell and demanding hospitalisation.

Most people today will acquire the following generation blend variation of the booster vaccine, which features a half dose of the former vaccine put together with a fifty percent dose in opposition to the Omicron variant.

For a really little number of people today yet another vaccine solution may perhaps be suggested by their physician.

How do I get vaccinated?

Some people who are qualified for each will be presented their flu and COVID-19 vaccines in one particular appointment, but most persons will get them independently.

People qualified for the flu vaccine can book an appointment with their GP or at a pharmacy which features the vaccine on the NHS. You may possibly obtain an invitation to get the vaccine but you do not have to have to wait around for this to e-book your appointment. If you are expecting you will be equipped to get the vaccine from some maternity products and services or your GP.

Kids qualified for the flu vaccine will get the nasal spray. Those suitable who have not however started off key school will get the vaccine at their GP follow. For these little ones in principal university, they will acquire the vaccine at university when mother and father have signed and returned a consent form.

The countrywide scheduling support for COVID-19 vaccination is now open up for autumn boosters. Persons aged around 65, those people who are immunosuppressed, people today who are pregnant and entrance-line well being and social treatment workers are now capable to guide an appointment.

Absolutely everyone who is eligible for the no cost flu vaccine will be ready to get it.

GP surgeries and pharmacies get the flu vaccine in batches all over the flu period. If you can’t get an appointment straight away, check with if you can ebook a single for when much more vaccines are out there.

Pay a visit to nhs.uk/wintervaccinations for more data on who is eligible and how to reserve.