Local MP, Caroline Dinenage, is encouraging people to get their COVID-19 booster and flu jabs to protect themselves and their loved ones this winter.
The colder weather in the winter months favours transmission and experts have warned there could a significant flu surge and continuing or rising Covid cases. That is why the Government is pushing the biggest winter vaccine campaign ever for Covid and flu, including in Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington and Hill Head so people can help protect not just themselves and their loved ones this winter and play their part in reducing pressure on the NHS.
Vaccines provide the best possible protection against infection and serious disease and so it is vital people come forward for both Covid jabs and flu vaccines. The Covid booster programme was launched to prolong protection into winter, and for those aged 12 – 15 it is so important to come forward for a single dose to reduce transmission in schools and keep pupils in the classroom.
This year will see the country’s biggest flu programme in history with 35 million people eligible for a free vaccine. Starting this week, the country’s leading pharmacies have joined forces to encourage people to come forward and get their free flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster jab when eligible. Alongside independent pharmacists, Boots, LloydsPharmacy and Asda – who together have 5,000 pharmacies across the UK – have backed the call for people to get vaccinated for the best possible protection this winter.
People will be invited for the COVID-19 booster jab when it’s their turn - if they have not been contacted within a week of reaching 6 months since their second jab they can call 119 or book online. Those who are eligible for a free flu vaccine can book an appointment through their GP surgery or local pharmacy.
Commenting, Caroline said:
“Over 75,000 people across Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington and Hill Head have come forward to get their coronavirus jabs! Thanks to them we’ve been able to open up the country and make progress back towards normal life.
“It is vital that each and every one of us continues to play our part – to protect our loved ones and the NHS, and to stay ahead in the race against the virus, by taking up the offer of a vaccine.
“Through a renewed national effort to get jabbed against Covid and flu, building on the biggest flu programme in history, we can continue saving lives by building up our protection against the virus ”.
Commenting, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said:
“Our vaccine programme is building a wall of defence across the country and our booster rollout is now well underway with more than 4 million jabs in arms.
“As we go into winter, it is vital that eligible people get their booster jab and their flu jab to protect themselves, their loved ones and the NHS.
“This is a national mission and I’m hugely grateful to the public, volunteers and NHS workers rolling out jabs. It is fantastic to see some of our biggest high street pharmacies give their backing to the winter vaccination programme.”
