Well Pharmacy, one of the UK's leading independent pharmacy chains, has been offering flu vaccinations for free.
The chain says it is concerned as the winter flu season is now in full force, with hospital admissions reaching a peak and flu stats higher than they have been in
recent years.
Recent data shared by NHS England showed that there was an increase in flu cases by nearly 70 per cent leaving many in hospital each week.
Well Pharmacy is worried about those who have yet to have the flu jab and has been urging people to get one for free.
It recognises that only children aged 2-11, people over 50, and those with certain medical conditions are eligible for free NHS jabs, leaving millions who would
normally have to pay for a flu vaccination which usually costs £15.
Research recently undertaken by the chain shows that a quarter of people (25 per cent) think that after so many Covid-19 jabs in the last few years, 'vaccine fatigue'
has led to a perceived lack of motivation in others to get their jabs.
Well Pharmacy has announced that the bookings for the flu vaccine later this year are now open.
This is earlier than usual and gives people the best chance to prepare for flu season, knowing that their vaccine can be done as soon as possible when the season
starts.
Appointments for the flu jab can be booked for a date later this year. The price for the private service is £17.99, but jabs for people eligible on the NHS will be
free.
Well Pharmacy stresses that it is important that people remain flu savvy and protect themselves and others.
Free NHS flu jabs will be available to those over 65 in England and Wales currently, and to people eligible in a clinical risk group.
Boots UK's chief pharmacist has been encouraging people to get a flu vaccination by the end of November to help protect themselves, their loved ones and the
NHS this festive season.
Flu cases in the UK are usually highest in the winter months, from December to March. This year, the UK has seen a rise in cases earlier than usual, and therefore
Claire Nevinson, superintendent pharmacist at Boots, reminds people that it is even more important to get protected early to help reduce the risk of spreading the
virus due to increased mixing at Christmas parties and family get togethers.
Approximately 33 million people are eligible for the free NHS flu jab, including those over 50 years of age, pregnant women and those with medical conditions such as
diabetes or heart disease.
The pharmacy multiple says it offers the winter flu jab service, which is suitable for those eligible for the free NHS flu jab as well as privately, adding that it
has already administered over one million flu vaccinations this season.
Ms Nevinson explains: "December is a time to get together with friends and family to celebrate the month's festivities. It's a good idea to plan ahead to ensure you
have your flu jab, and your COVID-19 booster vaccination if you are eligible, if you've not had them already, this the best way to protect yourself and reduce the
risk of passing the viruses to others.
All adults aged 50 years and above are eligible for free flu jabs in England under the autumn Covid-19 booster programme, the Department of Health and Social
Care (DHSC) has announced.
"The flu virus could also be highly infectious at this time of year, so I am also announcing that those eligible for a free flu vaccination this year will include
everyone aged 50 and over, primary school children and secondary school pupils in years 7, 8 and 9, as well as people in clinical risk groups, unpaid carers and
household contacts of those who are immunosuppressed," said new health secretary Steve Barclay.
Commenting on the DHSC's announcement, CCA chief executive Malcolm Harrison said: "We welcome the decision to accept the advice of the JCVI on who can have free
Covid-19 boosters and flu jabs this autumn. Community pharmacies have turbo-charged the Covid-19 vaccination programme over the past 18 months and last year we
witnessed the most successful community pharmacy flu campaign ever."
Well Pharmacy is urging those eligible to take up the offer of a further Covid booster jab this spring.
Adults aged 75 years and over and anyone over 5 years old and are immunosuppressed - such as those who are undergoing chemotherapy or have had an organ
transplant - are entitled to have a further Covid booster jab from mid-April, said one of the UK's largest community pharmacy chains.
Taking part in the vaccination programme again, Well Pharmacy is encouraging people to book another booster as soon as they are contacted by the NHS - which
should be at least six months after their previous booster.
The national booking site for those eligible opens this week.
The jabs have been updated since the vaccines were introduced to now target newer strains of Covid-19, Well said in a press release issued on Wednesday, 5 April.
Thousands of people are still testing positive for Covid each week according to Government data, and - while hospitalisations are down - a large number of people
are still being hospitalised with Covid, so getting jabbed is as important as ever.
And the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recently confirmed that hospital admissions last autumn highlighted that the risk of becoming
seriously ill from coronavirus was noticeably higher in people over 75.