Plans to ramp up winter flu vaccine system

The Government aims to make more people eligible for the flu vaccine because of fears that an outbreak could coincide with a second surge of coronavirus cases.

Downing Street says ministers are trying to secure a "significant additional supply" of vaccines, with the seasonal illness having the potential to wreak havoc because of the similarity of its symptoms with COVID-19.

Currently the flu vaccine is available for free to those deemed most at risk.

This includes pregnant women, people over 65, carers and primary school children.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for this free availability to be extended to everyone over 50, warning that an outbreak of flu this winter could create a "perfect storm".

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "This year it's particularly important as we want to make sure we protect as many people as possible in those risk groups.

"As part of that planning, the Government has been working to secure a significant additional supply of vaccines and will use these to increase uptake in existing at risk groups as a priority.

“We also intend to expand the groups of people that are eligible and we will be setting out more details shortly."

Earlier, Sir Keir said that the flu vaccine system must be "ramped up" and given to all over-50s.

He said: "It would be the perfect storm this winter if we had an outbreak of influenza at the same time as the possibility of a second spike of COVID because the symptoms are very similar.”