With more than 3 million flu vaccinations given to people in the Midlands so far, the NHS is thanking those involved in making the flu programme a success.

3 million vaccines across the region marks a significant milestone in protecting communities this winter. The NHS is thanking those who have taken up the free offer of a flu vaccine, and with the countdown to Christmas now on, the NHS teams across the Midlands, GP surgeries and pharmacies providing a huge range of clinics open to make it easier for you to get protected.

The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It’s offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu. More and more people who are eligible for the vaccine are coming forwards although there is always more to do.

Julia Grace, Deputy Director for vaccinations for NHS England in the Midlands said “I’m delighted at passing 3 million flu vaccinations given to people in the Midlands. I want to take the opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has taken up the offer of protection with the flu vaccine this winter, and to our vaccination teams working hard across the region for their time, effort and resource spent helping us to achieve this.

Our hospitals across the Midlands are reporting an earlier start to flu with some patients in intensive care as well as on wards, so the protection that the flu vaccine offers is particularly important this early in the flu season.

There is an incredible amount of work that goes into the delivery of the flu vaccination programme each year and we very much appreciate the support our teams give to promoting the vaccine and its availability to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities as well as to those who care for them.

We know that there are many more people aged 65 and over who have not been reached as yet, as well as schools that have not been visited. With less than a month to go until Christmas, we want to make it as easy as possible for people to get their vaccination and be protected”

If you are over 65, or have a long term health condition, or have a child at school, are pregnant, or parent to a two or three year old child, you can find out how to get a flu vaccination at www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/vaccination-and-booking-services/book-flu-vaccination/

As well as flu vaccination clinics at GP surgeries, pharmacies are offering vaccinations for children and adults and immunisation teams are visiting primary and secondary schools to vaccinate children with their parents’ consent.

Mums to be should protect themselves and their babies from the serious effects of flu by asking their GP or their maternity service for the vaccination, or alternatively by going into any local pharmacy offering NHS flu vaccinations.

For more information about the flu vaccine visit www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/flu-vaccine/

For information about clinics in your area visit www.england.nhs.uk/midlands/nhs-england-and-nhs-improvement-midlands-work/winter-vaccination-2025/