More than 100,000 people across Hampshire and Isle of Wight have taken up the offer of a free COVID-19 vaccination in the first week of the autumn campaign.
Your local NHS would like to remind you that there are still thousands of appointments available to ensure that you can get yours. You can book via the NHS website, by downloading the NHS App, or by calling 119 free if they you get online.
Since the campaign launched a week ago, thousands of eligible people have helped themselves stay one step ahead of winter respiratory illnesses by getting vaccinated. Having a flu and COVID-19 vaccination may not stop people from becoming ill but they can help keep symptoms mild.
Dr Matt Nisbet, Hampshire GP and clinical lead for vaccinations for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “It’s great to see such a fantastic response from people to come forward and have their vaccinations just within this first week.
“There are thousands of appointments available for both flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, including within GP surgeries, pharmacies and in midwifery services. There’s also still plenty of time to get booked in if you haven’t done so already.
“Getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to help protect yourself from becoming seriously unwell over the winter months.”
Those eligible for a flu vaccine this year include:
- those aged 65 years and over
- those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
- 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 health and social care settings
Those eligible for an autumn COVID-19 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
- frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults
The NHS will be sending out reminders to those eligible to get their jabs, while GP practices and other local NHS services will also be contacting people to offer the vaccines.
To find out more about the vaccination programmes, including who is eligible, information about vaccine safety and where you can get vaccinated, visit https://www.hantsiowhealthandcare.org.uk/
For questions relating to the COVID-19 vaccination only, you can call the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Covid Vaccination Helpline on 0300 561 0018. It is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.