The NHS has issued a ‘flu jab SOS’, with the East of England’s vaccinations expert warning people to get protected now, with only weeks to go before the worst of the flu season typically bites.

Eligible adults are being urged to come forward now, so they are fully protected ahead of the usual flu season peak in the winter months.

In response, the health service in the East of England is making hundreds of thousands of vaccination slots available across the region next week – including over 370,000 in community pharmacies.

The NHS is calling on eligible adults to get their jab as soon as possible to stamp out the early wave of flu hitting the NHS more than a month earlier this year, with cases triple the same time last year.

It follows the biggest flu season in Australia’s history – often an accurate predictor of what is around the corner for people in England.

The latest weekly data shows NHS teams in the East of England have now delivered almost 1.75 million flu vaccines since the rollout kicked off (1,740,639).

In the East of England more than three in five (62.5 per cent) of all care home residents have now been protected against flu thanks to efforts to link up vaccination and care home services to deliver jabs in-house, as well as moving the vaccines closer to home via mobile buses, pharmacies or by local community pop ups.

More than 50,000 vaccines have been delivered to two- and three-year-olds in the East of England – only just over a third of all toddlers who are eligible (36.8 per cent) – despite the NHS making it easier than ever for parents to get their young children vaccinated in local supermarkets and on the high street by rolling out the vaccine to around 400 local pharmacies across the region.

Eligible adults can book an appointment to get their flu vaccine now via at their local pharmacy via the NHS App, GP practice, online at www.nhs.uk/bookflu or by calling 119. You can also use the pharmacy finder to find your nearest walk-in service.

Parents are being reminded to complete their child’s vaccination consent forms to schools, or to book an appointment for 2 to 3-year-olds, to ensure their child gets protected against flu ahead of the Christmas holidays.

Dr Eleanor Powers, head of public health commissioning for immunisations at NHS England – East of England, said: “Flu cases are already triple what they were this time last year and are on the rise in the East of England.

“So that’s why we are issuing an urgent SOS to those eligible to use the hundreds of thousands of appointments we have running next week to stamp out this early wave of flu and help shield themselves ahead of winter, when viruses tend to circulate and hospitals face increased pressure on services.

“The vaccine is still our best defence against flu, but the virus changes every year, which is why it is so important to get the new vaccine each year to stay protected.

“The vaccine is proven to be safe and help prevent those at risk from getting seriously ill and even hospitalised from flu, so getting vaccinated now means you’ll have the best possible protection in place for yourself and your loved ones.

“It’s now easier than ever to get you and your family protected this winter, whether it’s at your local GP practice, pharmacy, your child’s school or other community clinic,– so don’t wait, get your appointment booked in today.”

Flu vaccines are available for everyone aged 65 and over, under 65s in clinical risk groups, pregnant women, care home residents and carers, close contacts of those who are immunosuppressed, frontline social care workers, and health and social care staff as well as children.

COVID-19 vaccinations are available to adults aged 75 and over, older adult care home residents, and people who are immunosuppressed.

Over 75s and those who are immunosuppressed can book their COVID-19 vaccine directly with their local pharmacy, GP practice, via the NHS app, online at www.nhs.uk/bookcovid or via 119.

The NHS also recommends the RSV vaccine to pregnant women and older adults, as well as the pneumococcal vaccine to over 65s, to help protect against serious illnesses that are more common in the winter, like pneumonia.

You can access more information on recommended vaccinations at nhs.uk/vaccinations.

Notes to editors

• All flu vaccination statistics published on NHS England’s website: Statistics » Vaccinations: Flu

ENDS