England’s deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam urged people to get vaccinated against the flu. He said: “Flu can be deadly and it is easily spread in both children and adults. The vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from becoming ill with the flu, especially if you are in a vulnerable group. This winter with Covid still circulating and the increased risk to life if you are ill with both viruses simultaneously, it is even more vital to get the flu jab as soon as you can.”
Which pharmacies are offering the flu vaccine?
There are a number of pharmacies in which you can get vaccinated.
Lloyds Pharmacy offers the jab for £12.99, while Asda has the vaccine on offer for £8.
Superdrug is also offering the vaccine through its pharmacies, where it can be obtained for a cost of £12.99.
Tesco, meanwhile, is making the jab available to customers for a price of £9.
The vaccine is also available at Boots, although they have currently suspended bookings for anyone under 65 due to “unprecedented demand”.
A spokesperson for Boots said: “We have been closely monitoring our stock levels, and made the decision this weekend to pause taking new bookings for our private and NHS under-65s flu vaccination services.
“This is to make sure we can vaccinate the patients who have already booked their appointments with us.
“We are still able to continue supporting to the NHS over-65s flu vaccination service due to stock availability of the trivalent vaccination which the NHS recommends for people aged 65 and over.”
It was reported earlier this year that over 30million people were expected to get a flu vaccine to help ease pressure on the NHS.
There are several options available if you’re looking to get a flu jab this winter.
You can book an appointment with your GP to have it done there, with your midwife if you’re pregnant, or in a local pharmacy.
But, as a number of GPs aren’t seeing patients at the moment, a pharmacy is likely the best bet.
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According to the NHS, the best time to get vaccinated for the flu is in the autumn.
This is before the flu has had a real chance to take hold, with pharmacies having already began bookings this month.
If you are eligible, you could get the vaccine free on the NHS.
This year, the qualifying categories have been extended in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, undoubtedly in an effort to protect more people.
To qualify, you must be:
- Anyone aged 50 and over
- Pregnant
- A child who will turn 11 by August 31, 2020
- A child in primary School
- A child aged two and three
- A child over six-months-old with any long term health conditions
- Someone with health conditions including asthma, kidney disease and heart disease
- Living in a household with someone on the NHS shielding list
- A carer or living in a care home
- A front-line health and social care worker
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