Everyone eligible urged to get flu jab as hospital admissions rise

Data published yesterday shows that flu infection and hospital admission rates have remained high over Christmas and the New Year, while 410,000 people in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have now had a vital flu jab.

Commenting on the stats, Dr Paddy Hannigan, Clinical Lead of the Vaccination Programme in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, said: “We have delivered thousands of flu jabs across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, protecting thousands of people and keeping them out of hospital. But unfortunately, flu admissions continue to be very high at our local hospitals and so it remains vital that anyone eligible, including pregnant women and children aged two and three, who are yet to have their flu jab, book in for one as soon as possible.”

Dr Hannigan added: “We’re really pleased to be able to offer, for the first time, flu vaccinations at many of our walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics. There is an overlap in eligibility for both vaccinations, so it makes sense to offer both in the same place.”

Flu jabs are available for:

• people aged 50 and over

• people aged over six months to 49 in a clinical risk group

• some secondary school-aged children

• 2 and 3-year-olds

• pregnant women

• primary school-aged children

• care home residents

• carers

• frontline healthcare workers

• frontline social care staff who do not have access to occupational health schemes

• household contacts of people with weakened immune systems.

To get a flu jab you can:

• contact your GP practice to book an appointment

• many COVID-19 clinics now also offer flu vaccines. Find a local walk-in clinic on nhs.uk

• enquire at a local pharmacy.