The NHS is urging eligible people in the region to book their flu jab now as the health service starts winter preparations earlier than ever.

The national booking system is now open so eligible adults in the East of England can pre-book their vaccinations in advance of the starting date to ensure they get the best protection for winter. All eligible adults can now pre-book a community pharmacy appointment for their flu vaccination through the booking system. Some people, including pregnant women, can get vaccinated from 1 September, while the majority of eligible people will be vaccinated from 1 October.

Early booking will help the NHS do everything it can to ease winter demand after back-to-back heatwaves saw staff treat record numbers this summer. Across England, A&E attendances hit a record 2.5 million attendances in July – and staff experienced the 3 busiest months ever recorded between May and July in emergency departments. Despite the record pressure, more patients were seen, treated or discharged within 4 hours than in June, with performance improving to 75.4%.

Flu season usually peaks in December and January, so the NHS is starting vaccinations in autumn, to ensure those at risk are protected and fewer people are hospitalised. Flu can cause significant issues for children, pregnant women, older adults and people with some long-term health conditions, including hospitalisation and, in certain cases, severe respiratory failure or even death.

Around 104,000 hospitalisations are estimated to have been avoided last year. Last winter, nearly 19 million people received their flu jab in England of which 2.34 million were in the East of England.

Local NHS services will begin sending invites to eligible people from next month via their GP practice, NHS app or letter, but eligible adults can already book an advance appointment in a community pharmacy on the national booking system.  You can find out if you are eligible on the nhs.uk website.

Dr Eleanor Powers, Head of Public Health Commissioning (Immunisation) for NHS England – East of England, said: “The flu jab really is your best defence against winter illness. It takes just a few minutes, but it can protect you for months, helping to prevent serious illness, avoid hospital admissions and keeping the most vulnerable people safe.

“By getting your flu jab, you’re not only protecting yourself, but also your loved ones, your community and helping the NHS prepare for winter.

“Now it is easier than ever to book in advance – there are plenty of appointments available at the time and place most convenient to you.

“Booking early means you’ll be vaccinated in good time, before these viruses start circulating widely, giving you the best possible protection through the autumn and winter months.”

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Yvette Cooper, said: “Vaccinations play a vital role in protecting those most at risk from flu and they are also crucial for relieving pressures on our NHS over the winter months.

“Everyone who is eligible for a free vaccination will be notified through their phone or in the post, and the system for booking appointments is now open.

“Together, we can save lives, support the most vulnerable, and ensure our NHS is there for everyone who needs it this winter”.

-ENDS-

Editors’ Notes

• For school age children, vaccination teams will be visiting schools as usual to make getting the vaccination as easy as possible, but if children have underlying conditions, they can get a vaccine earlier via their GP. 2- and 3-year-old children should go to their GP for vaccination in September, or from the 1st October they can get their vaccine in some community pharmacies.
• The jab is given in injectable form in the vast majority of cases, and a nasal spray is provided for most children.
• Other cohorts will begin receiving the jab from 1 October and they can also book an advance appointment in a community pharmacy now on the national booking system. These include those aged 65 years and over, all adults in a clinical risk group, frontline health workers, carers and people in close contact with the immunocompromised.
• More information on eligibility can be found on the nhs.uk website.