South Yorkshire residents who are eligible can book their life-saving autumn Covid vaccine online from today (18 September) as the NHS steps up its winter vaccination programmes early in response to the risk of the new Covid variant.
Anyone eligible can book their Covid vaccinations via the NHS website, by downloading the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free if they can’t get online.
Hundreds of thousands of adults who are eligible for winter vaccines – including all aged 65 and over, pregnant women and those with an underlying health condition – will also begin receiving invitations from the NHS to encourage them to get their Covid and flu jabs from this week.
GP practices and other local NHS services will also be contacting people to offer both flu and Covid vaccines, and people can book the flu vaccine by searching online for a local pharmacy.
COVID vaccination for those aged under 18 years will begin later in the year – the NHS will let eligible families know when this offer opens.
This year’s adult Covid and flu vaccination programme has been brought forward on the advice of scientists following the emergence of a new covid-19 variant (BA.2.86), which has a high number of mutations.
Health chiefs have ensured there is enough capacity to offer the flu and covid vaccines to all those eligible by the end of October, reflecting the risk of the new variant.
Anthony Fitzgerald, NHS South Yorkshire Vaccination Programme Lead said:
“We are working across the whole of South Yorkshire to deliver the covid and flu vaccines to those at highest risk from severe illness. I would encourage anyone who is eligible to get both vaccinations as soon as possible after being contacted to ensure you and your loved ones stay protected during the colder months.
“With concerns arising over new covid variants, NHS staff have worked hard to bring the programme forward to ensure services are ready for patients at an earlier stage. I would like to thank all the NHS staff involved across our region in making this happen.”
The NHS winter flu and Covid vaccination programme provides vital protection to those eligible and their families over winter, keeping people from developing serious illnesses, and helping to minimise hospitalisations during busy winter months.
People eligible during this year’s vaccination campaign include all aged 65 and over, care home residents, frontline health and social care staff, those at increased risk because they are pregnant or have a certain underlying health condition, unpaid carers and household contacts of those at risk.
It is important for those who are eligible to top up their protection, even if they have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.
On 11 September, care home residents and people who are housebound began receiving their covid and flu vaccinations with visits from their local NHS team.
Flu vaccination of children aged two to 17 has begun and the first invitations to parents of children aged two and three are also being sent today. Parents are being urged to fill out the consent forms for the nasal spray vaccine as soon as they can, which is administered at school and in GP surgeries