Midlands people help deliver a stunning start to winter vaccinations
The rollout of Covid and flu vaccines for older adults, care home residents and those with long term health conditions has got off to a great start in the Midlands as part of the NHS drive to protect against a ‘tripledemic’ of viruses this winter.
The first official statistics have been published for Covid and flu vaccinations today (Thursday 17 October) and show that in the Midlands more than 2million vaccinations (1,317,069 flu and 718,193 Covid) have been given.
Those eligible have been able to get their vaccinations since 03 October at their GP surgery, via the NHS website, the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free. The flu vaccine can also be booked by searching online for a local pharmacy and there are walk in sites available to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
GP surgeries and more 390 East Midlands pharmacies and 490 West Midlands pharmacies have been giving vaccinations. Last year in the Midlands the NHS vaccinated more than 3.3 million people with the flu vaccine, and more than 2.2 million people with the Covid vaccine.
Flu vaccinations for children and pregnant women started on 1 September, to help stop the virus spreading as schools returned.
Flu season usually peaks in December and January, so starting adult vaccinations from October ensures those most at risk are protected during the colder months when people gather indoors, and viruses spread.
Earlier this month new figures from UKHSA showed that over the past two winters there have been at least 18,000 deaths associated with flu and over 19,500 deaths associated with Covid-19.
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination has been given to older adults aged 75 to 79 and to pregnant women since early September. RSV is a common lung infection that can lead to serious illnesses like pneumonia. 144,326 vaccinations have been given across the Midlands in GP surgeries and in maternity clinics with evidence showing it could prevent thousands of A&E attendances, hospital admissions, and serious cases this winter alone.
Roz Lindridge, Midlands NHS England director responsible for vaccinations said: “We are very pleased that so many people in the Midlands are heeding the advice to get protected to prevent serious illness this winter. With figures showing thousands of deaths associated with Covid and flu in recent years, it is clear the threat of winter viruses is all too real and it is vital that anyone eligible takes up the offer to get vaccinated.
“There are many slots available with GP practices, pharmacies and other NHS teams offering quick and easy appointments, so please do look at the NHS App, NHS websites or call 119 to book your appointment. It could keep you out of hospital this winter.”
In line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, those eligible for a flu vaccine this year include:
From 1 September:
- pregnant women
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
- primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
- secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
- all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
From 3 October:
- those aged 65 years and over
- those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book)
- those in long-stay residential care homes
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by Those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants.
Those eligible for an autumn Covid vaccine are:
- residents in a care home for older adults
- all adults aged 65 years and over
- persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in the Green Book, including pregnant women
- frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults
Local sources of information on winter vaccination:
Pop up vaccine clinic :: Black Country ICB
Immunisations and vaccinations :: NHS Birmingham and Solihull (icb.nhs.uk)
COVID-19 Vaccinations :: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System (hwics.org.uk)
Get your vaccinations – Happy Healthy Lives – Coventry and Warwickshire ICB
Vaccinations – NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (shropshiretelfordandwrekin.nhs.uk)
Vaccinations – NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB
Covid-19 » Joined Up Care Derbyshire
COVID-19 and Flu – Lincolnshire ICB
Vaccinations | Integrated Care Northamptonshire (icnorthamptonshire.org.uk)