Sixties swinging into booster programme

People aged 60-to-69 are starting to receive invitations for their flu and Covid-19 booster vaccinations through the post.

Adults aged 16 and over who have underlying health conditions will also start to receive them.

Appointments for these groups are being issued in batches in descending age order (starting with 69-yearolds) and will take place at community clinics.

NHS Lanarkshire is currently vaccinating people in the highest risk groups for both flu and coronavirus, including those who are aged 70 years and above, people in older adult care homes, those who are on the highest risk list and frontline health and social care workers.

Tom Elrick, general manager vaccination programme in Lanarkshire, said: “We are currently working through priority lists for those who are eligible for the Covid vaccine booster and the flu vaccine and are making good headway.

“Appointments for both vaccines are being scheduled based on clinical need and age and it will take into the middle of January for everyone to be offered their vaccines.”

In addition, the health board is delivering flu vaccinations to children under two-years-old who have underlying health conditions, preschool children aged two-to-five, all school pupils, pregnant women and all NHS healthcare workers.

The winter flu and Covid-19 vaccination programmes are working together to reduce the risks for both types of illness.

Wherever possible, those eligible for the booster jab will receive both the flu vaccine and coronavirus boosters on the same day. This is “safe and effective to do and will reduce the need to have two separate appointments”.

For those in the underlying health conditions group, the type of health condition will guide whether they will be given a flu jab, the Covid booster, or both vaccines.

Details on who is eligible for these vaccinations and when they can expect an invitation are available at nhsinform.scot/ fluandcovid19vaccsguide.

Mr Elrick added: “Boosters will be offered to many of the groups who routinely have the flu vaccine to protect people from both illnesses. To support this, we are ensuring those most vulnerable are vaccinated first.

“Everyone who is eligible will be offered a vaccination. If you haven’t received your appointment letter yet, please be patient. You do not have to do anything now – you will be contacted, notifying you of your appointment.

“When offered vaccinations we would encourage people to take these up. Flu can be extremely serious and is very infectious.

“With Covid-19 still circulating in the community we can best protect those most at risk as well as ease pressure on our health service.”