Free flu jab and COVID booster offer to workers and vulnerable

Perth and Kinross residents in at-risk groups, as well as health and social care staff, are encouraged to take up the offer of a free flu vaccination and COVID-19 booster ahead of winter.

The message by NHS Tayside comes as the seasonal flu vaccination programme gets underway, with those who are most at risk also being offered a coronavirus booster if they had their second dose more than six months ago.

For those who are eligible, both jabs may be given at the same appointment.

People aged 70 and over and those aged 16 and over who are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable (previously known as shielding) are currently being invited for their flu vaccination at their own GP practices.

Invitations for COVID boosters for this group will follow and will be by blue envelope for appointments at our community vaccination centres.

People who were severely immunosuppressed at the time of their last COVID vaccination will be offered a third primary dose and will receive a blue envelope.

People aged 50-69, people aged 16-49 with a long-term health condition such as heart, lung or kidney diseases, unpaid carers, and those living with someone who is immunosuppressed will be able to book an appointment online from October for both flu vaccination and COVID booster.

Vaccinations will take place in the community vaccination centres across Tayside.

Frontline NHS Tayside staff and frontline social care workers are also strongly encouraged to take up the offer of a flu jab and COVID boosters.

Non-frontline NHS Tayside staff are also eligible for flu vaccinations.

Vaccinations will take place in hospitals and community vaccination centres.

Community pharmacies across Tayside will also be offering flu vaccination only for NHS and social care staff.

Care home staff and residents are being offered vaccination in their care homes.

Primary and secondary school pupils will be offered the flu vaccination at their school, while parents of children aged two to five who are not yet at school will have received a letter inviting them to attend a local clinic.

Pregnant women will be offered flu vaccination by midwifery services as part of their routine antenatal care.

Staff can access vaccination through the booking portal at www.nhsinform.scot/ HSCWvaccination or, for flu only, at community pharmacies.

NHS Tayside associate director for public health Dr Daniel Chandler said:“Flu can be a very serious illness which spreads easily and, with COVID-19 also continuing to circulate in our communities, we need to do all we can to minimise the risk to those who are most vulnerable.

“The effects of flu and COVID could also have a big impact on our health and social care services this winter if staff become unwell and need to take time off work so it’s really important that staff get these vaccinations as early as possible.”

More information is available at www.nhsinform.scot/flu-vaccine and for COVID boosters at www. nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine