People in South Cumbria are being invited to get the new-style COVID-19 booster vaccine ‘as quickly as they can’.
Appointments for the new variant-busting jabs are now able to be booked by those aged 75 and over, and those with weakened immune systems.
The announcement follows the rollout of the new booster to care home residents and staff earlier this week.
Carole McCann, Chief Nurse for the Lancashire and South Cumbria COVID-19 vaccination programme, said: “We are envisaging a challenging winter, and anticipate seeing the continued spread of COVID-19 plus a resurgence in flu for the first time since the pandemic.
“We are urging everyone who is eligible for the COVID-19 booster to get it to protect themselves and anyone around them who might be vulnerable. The same goes for the flu vaccination, please get it to maximise your overall protection from what is a nasty illness that could result in hospital admission, or worse.”
The first NHS invitations are set to hit doorsteps this week, and eligible people can book their booster vaccine from today for an appointment for next week using the National Booking Service, by calling 119, or finding a local vaccination walk-in site.
From Monday onwards, GPs, pharmacists, and mass vaccination sites will begin giving jabs to hundreds of thousands of people at greater risk from the COVID-19 virus.
Lancashire and South Cumbria is also gearing up to begin its annual programme of flu vaccinations, which will be offered to more vulnerable groups first.
Younger children, older people, those in clinical risk groups and pregnant women will be able to book an appointment for a flu vaccine at their GP practice or a pharmacy.
From mid-October, people aged 50 to 64 years old that aren’t in a clinical risk group, will also be able to get their free flu vaccine.
People may be able to get both vaccines at the same time and where this is not possible, people are urged to get the jabs separately but as quickly as they can.
The autumn COVID-19 booster and flu vaccination programmes are among a package of measures to prepare for winter as the health service in Lancashire and South Cumbria continues to face record demand on its urgent and emergency care services.
Bed capacity is being ramped up, there will be more 999 and NHS 111 staff, and the integrated care system will work to ensure patients can be discharged from hospital back to their own home or into the community with appropriate support as soon as it is clinically possible to do so.
Carole added: “We want people to stay safe and to stay well, and we’re making the COVID-19 booster and the annual flu vaccination available to the people that need it most.
“The NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria will be here if you need us this winter; please help us to help you by getting your vaccinations done at the earliest opportunity.”
