Over 10 Million Covid And Flu Jabs Delivered As NHS Ramps Up Protection Ahead Of Winter
The first seasonal vaccination data out today shows more than 5.7 million Covid or flu vaccines have been given in the last week alone (2,181,198 COVID-19 and 3,556,236 flu vaccinations administered week ending 13 October) as those eligible come forward to get their protection.
Covid jabs were rolled out to those eligible on 3 October, and in just 10 days since then, NHS staff have delivered almost 4 million vaccines (3,794,214 from 3 to 13 October).
Flu jabs have been available for pregnant women and children since 1 September to help stop the virus spreading as schools returned and are now fully rolled out across the country to all remaining eligible groups.
Across the country, NHS staff have introduced ways of delivering vaccinations to make it as easy as possible for people to receive their jabs – like setting up a mobile unit in a supermarket car park in the Midlands, training care home staff to deliver jabs to residents in their own space across the North West, or hosting a pop-up clinic in a local rugby club in North East and Yorkshire.
The NHS has invited over 11 million people in England to come forward, but those that are eligible do not have to wait to receive an invitation to be able to book.
Anyone eligible can book a Covid-19 or flu vaccine appointment via the NHS website, NHS App, or by calling 119 for free. The flu vaccine can also be booked by searching online for a local pharmacy and there are walk in sites available to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
Latest data shows an encouraging number of adults over 65 are already coming forward to get protected, with over 2.8 million Covid-19 jabs delivered this month so far, on top of almost 4 million flu jabs since the start of the rollout.
In the first 10 days of the rollout, around 600,000 Covid vaccines were also delivered to those in clinical risk groups.
UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) latest surveillance data shows an increase of Covid-19 and influenza hospitalisations as well as a rise in Covid-19 acute respiratory incidents (week 40).
Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening said:
“Today’s figures are a testament to the hard work of NHS staff in successfully rolling out winter vaccinations across the country in a bid to protect those who are most vulnerable as we move towards the colder months.”
“We are seeing a rise of flu and Covid cases and hospitalisations, on top of a seasonal rise in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which are adding to the growing risk of a tripledemic this winter as pressures on NHS services are increased.”
“The threat of these viruses is real – and the best defence against these dangerous illnesses is vaccination – so it is crucial that anyone eligible comes forward for their vaccine appointment when they can to protect themselves and those around them – it could keep you out of hospital this winter”.
You are eligible for a Covid-19 and flu vaccination if you:
- are aged 65 or over
- are pregnant
- are aged 6 months to 64 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book)
- live in a care home for older adults
- are a frontline health and social care worker, including those working in care homes for older adults
In addition to the above, those also eligible for a flu vaccine include:
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance or are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
- primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6) and secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
- all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
- frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme, including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or personal health budgets, such as personal assistants