Published on: 17th October 2022
People across Lincolnshire are being reminded not to forget to top up their immunity from both covid and flu this winter.
Whilst the covid autumn booster rollout continues across the county, with 121,586 people having received their autumn booster vaccination (as of 10th October), we are also now in flu season and this winter has the potential to be particularly challenging.
“This will be the first time that we’ve had covid and flu circulating together in a significant way,” comments Dr Dave Baker, GP and Primary Care Partner Member, NHS Lincolnshire ICB. “So not only is it vital to have your covid autumn booster if you are eligible, it’s also really important to also have your flu vaccination.”
Like the covid vaccinations, the flu vaccination is safe and effective. It is offered every year through the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting serious ill from flu and if you are eligible for the covid autumn booster, you will likely also be eligible for the flu vaccination too.
“Getting both vaccinations is important because more people are likely to get flu this winter and you’re more likely to be seriously ill if you get flu and covid at the same time. Most of us know a fair bit about covid by now, but we might have forgotten about flu over the past couple of years,” adds Dr Baker.“Flu can spread easily from one person to another and not everyone has symptoms. Whilst most people will recover within a week, flu can cause severe illness and even death, and people with long-term health conditions – for example, respiratory conditions, diabetes, heart conditions, kidney disease – are at particular risk of becoming seriously ill if they catch flu.”
This potential double-whammy of covid and flu means it is especially important to get vaccinated as we go into winter.
Up to now people who are 65 and over (including those who will be 65 by 31st March 2023) have been able to book their free flu vaccination. From today (Friday 14th October), people aged 50 or over (including those who will be 50 by 31st March 2023) will be able to book their flu vaccination for Monday onwards.
“Happily this mirrors the covid autumn booster vaccination where, like the flu vaccination, up to this point we have been vaccinating people aged 65 and over, but from today people aged 50 and over will be able to book an appointment for Saturday onwards.
“And just like the covid autumn booster, there are other groups of people eligible for the flu vaccination right now including those with certain health conditions, pregnant women, people in long-stay residential care, people who receive a carer’s allowance or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick, and those who live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system,” explains Dr Baker.
The flu vaccination is available at your GP surgery, at pharmacies offering the service, and at some maternity services if you are pregnant.
It is also worth noting that many of the GP and community pharmacy-run covid vaccination sites around the county are offering people the opportunity to get their flu jab at the same time as their covid autumn booster, although the Meres Vaccination Centre, Grantham, the Weighing Rooms, Lincoln, and PRSA, Boston, are not and are only offering covid vaccinations.
“It is safe to have both your flu vaccination and your covid autumn booster vaccination at the same time, but you will need to book them separately. And please remember, as we move into winter when respiratory viruses are typically at their peak, getting your covid autumn booster and your flu vaccination has never been more important,” concludes Dr Baker.
If you get a text or email inviting you to book an appointment for your covid autumn booster you can do this online using the National Booking System or by calling 119. Or you can wait to be contacted by your GP.
If you are eligible for a free flu vaccination, you can book an appointment at your GP surgery or a pharmacy that offers it on the NHS – click here to find a pharmacy that offers NHS flu vaccinations. You may also receive an invitation to get vaccinated, but you do not have to wait for this before booking an appointment. You can find out more at www.nhs.uk/wintervaccinations
There is more information about the covid vaccination programme on NHS Lincolnshire ICB’s website www.lincolnshire.icb.nhs.uk/grabajab including a list of the scheduled vaccination clinics available at the county’s two Mass Vaccination Centres at the Weighing Rooms, Lincoln, and at PRSA, Boston, here: https://lincolnshire.icb.nhs.uk/grab-a-jab/vaccination-schedule-mass-vaccination-centres/
