People aged 50 and over in the East Midlands are now able to book their autumn booster and flu vaccines as the NHS COVID-19 programme continues to protect the region ahead of winter.

Online and phone bookings have opened to over one million people in the region aged between 50 and 64 to book their COVID jabs.  People can book their latest dose through the national booking system or by calling 119. You can also get a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from a walk-in site without an appointment. People can find their nearest walk-in sites on the NHS website. 

For the first time, the service will allow some people who are eligible for a flu vaccine to book an appointment online under a new pilot.

Over 2.3 million people in the East Midlands are eligible for an autumn COVID-19 booster and more than 540,000 people in the East Midlands have already booked in for their autumn booster since the launch of the latest campaign on 12 September. Many more people are getting their vaccinations through Walk-in Clinics.

Cases of COVID are rising in the community with latest figures showing that there are over 2,150 patients with COVID-19 in the region’s hospitals with 6,158 cases of COVID-19 in the East Midlands having been reported in the 7 days up to 8 October.

There are more than 260 sites in the East Midlands that are now offering COVID boosters – mainly community pharmacies and GP premises as well as a few bigger centres – so it should be more convenient than ever for people to get their vaccinations.

People can still book flu vaccinations through their GP practice or by visiting a participating community pharmacy. Please call 119 if you need help making an appointment for either jab.

Roz Lindridge, the NHS England director responsible for overseeing the vaccination programme across the Midlands, said:

“The threat of a COVID-19 and flu season creating a “twindemic” this winter is real. So, if you are over 50 it is vital to get your protection against both COVID and flu by coming forward and booking in when you can.

“Vaccinations remain the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation from COVID and flu this winter.”

While sites are co-administering the flu and COVID vaccines where possible, people may be required to book two separate appointments for the different vaccines.

Those eligible for the flu jab are:

• people aged 50 and over
• those aged over six months to 49 with a specified health condition
• some secondary school-aged children
• 2 and 3 year olds
• pregnant women;
• primary school-aged children
• those in care homes
• frontline health care workers
• frontline social care staff who do not have access to occupational health schemes
• household contacts of people with weakened immune systems

In line with JCVI advice, those eligible for an autumn COVID booster this year include:

• residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
• frontline health and social care workers
• all adults aged 50 years and over
• persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, as set out in the Green Book
• persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers, as set out in the Green Book

For a full list of Pharmacies offering a free NHS flu vaccination including those not part of the NBS pilot please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/pharmacy-nhs-flu-vaccine-service/

Pharmacies are taking appointment bookings for flu online at http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/book-flu-vaccination/ or by calling 119.