Time is running out for anyone who still hasn’t had their covid booster and flu vaccinations this winter. There is less than two weeks left for those eligible to book online to receive potentially lifesaving protection, ahead of the festive season.

Anyone eligible for the jabs has until14 December to book using either the NHS online booking system, NHS App or 119 phone service, with thousands of appointments available each week across the region.

Flu and covid vaccinations will still be available after 14 December (up until 31 March) but only by contacting your GP surgery or at some pharmacies.

Ruth Ashmore, Regional Director responsible for delivering flu and covid said: “Time is running out to get protected this winter – the sooner you get the jab the better the protection will be. As the festive season gets underway many people will celebrate together with family and friends. Nobody wants to be unwell over Christmas and so getting vaccinated is the best way to keep you and those around you well this winter.

“It’s easy and takes just moments to book your flu and covid vaccinations online, but you only have until 14 December to do so and join the record numbers already using the NHS App and booking online. Book online today for a healthier winter.”

Even if you have had a vaccine, or been ill with flu or covid before, immunity fades over time and the viruses change each year. Getting vaccinated now provides those eligible to get that latest,  “upgrade” in protection, and the best chance to enjoy the festivities virus-free.

So far, 1.4 million covid and 2 million flu vaccinations have been administered by the NHS in the East of England since the autumn campaign started on 11 September until 3 December. 72 percent of people aged 65 and over have received their covid vaccination. Yet there remain thousands of people who could still come forward to protect themselves this winter.

This Friday 8 December the NHS celebrates the third anniversary of the launch of the biggest vaccine campaign in NHS history, when a 90-year-old grandmother Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer covid jab, following its clinical approval. Today across the East of England more people than ever before – around 1.1 million – are receiving their flu and covid vaccines in the same appointment, for extra convenience.

Parents should also get their eligible children protected against the flu with the nasal spray vaccine, as they are at a higher risk of catching and spreading the virus. If caught, it can lead to serious problems like bronchitis and pneumonia. The flu vaccine is usually given as a nasal spray and will be offered in schools until 15 December. Parents are encouraged to call and book an appointment for their two or three-year-old (aged two or three on 31 August 2023), or their child with certain health conditions, at their GP practice until 31 March.