This week sees the start of this year’s Autumn and Winter vaccination programme for residents across Lanarkshire.
The programme will offer the flu and Covid booster to anyone who is eligible for either, or both, and appointments are already being issued.
This year’s flu vaccine offers the best possible protection against the flu viruses likely to be circulating this season. This protection is very important if you are likely to be in contact with high-risk people or if you are more at risk of serious flu illness like, older people and people with health conditions, babies and young children.
The Covid booster will offer longer lasting protection against severe Covid-19 illness to those who are more vulnerable and help build up immunity to the virus, so the body can fight it off more easily and any illness should be less severe.
Dr Henry A. Prempeh, Health Protection Consultant and Immunisation Coordinator, said: “It is really important that anyone sent a flu appointment takes the time to attend. While at their appointment, if they are eligible, they will also be offered the Covid winter booster.
“Anyone receiving an appointment with an unsuitable date, time or venue, can reschedule online or by calling the National Vaccination Helpline 0800 030 8013. This will allow us to give your original appointment time to someone else.
“Covid-19 is still with us so it’s really important that anyone eligible gets their Covid booster. Booster doses are safe, effective, and help to top up your protection against serious illness from the virus.”
For more information visit NHS Inform at https://www.nhsinform.scot/spring-coronavirus-covid-19-booster
Flu – who is eligible?
The flu vaccine will be offered to the following groups:
- 65 years and over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2024
- certain health conditions
- pregnant women
- long stay residential care resident
- carers for older or disabled people who may be are risk if the carer gets sick
- anyone with a weakened immune system
- children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023
- all primary school children
- all secondary school children
- children aged 2 to 17 years with certain long term conditions
Covid booster – who is eligible?
The Covid booster will be offered to the following groups:
- resident in care homes for older adults
- adults aged 65 years and over
- anyone aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group
- frontline health and social care workers
- anyone aged 12 to 64 who are household contacts of people who are immunosuppressed
- anyone aged 16 to 64 years who are carers
- staff working in care homes for older adults.
