People 50 and over urged to book for their COVID-19 Autumn Booster and Flu Vaccinations in ahead of winter

News - 17 October 2022

From Friday 14 October, people aged 50 and over can now book their COVID-19 Autumn Booster and flu vaccination in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin with appointments starting from Saturday, 15 October.

People aged 50 and over can now book their COVID-19 autumn booster online via the National Booking Service or by calling NHS 119.

Flu vaccinations for those 50 and over or those eligible can be booked through their GP practice or by visiting a participating community pharmacy.

For a full list of Pharmacies offering a free NHS flu vaccination including those not part of the online booking pilot please visit: www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/pharmacy-nhs-flu-vaccine-service/. Please call 119 if you need help.

Steve Ellis, Programme and Service Director for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin’s Vaccination Service, said: “We have got off to a great start in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin delivering more than 80,000 COVID-19 autumn boosters already in just over a month to people aged 65 and over and those most at risk from Covid.

“I would urge anyone aged 50 and over or who is eligible for a vaccine to book their autumn booster and/or flu vaccination as soon as they can, ahead of winter. More people get these viruses over winter and the vaccines are the best protection against getting seriously ill from flu and COVID-19 and spreading it to others.

“We have lots of bookable appointments and walk-in sites across the county, so don’t delay and get your jabs done as soon as you can.”

More than 30 sites are now delivering COVID-19 autumn boosters, while the flu jab is being offered at numerous community pharmacies and GP surgeries across the county helping to ensure that the vaccines are convenient to access. Approximately 26 million are eligible for an autumn Covid-19 booster with health leaders warning of a “twindemic” of the two illnesses this winter and urged people to come forward for their jabs.

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
  • people who are carers as set out in the Green Book
  • frontline healthcare workers
  • frontline social care staff who do not have access to occupational health schemes
  • household contacts of people with weakened immune system.

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