NHS Flu Vaccination Programme

Winter flu virus season is approaching and we are encouraging colleagues to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Eligibility for the NHS flu vaccination programme has been extended this year to provide free vaccinations for more people. This is to help reduce the spread of this winter’s flu virus and its impact on the conditions as we continue to deal with the covid-19 virus.

If you are eligible for a free vaccination through the NHS, you will be contacted by your GP surgery or other NHS centre, and we encourage you to book a vaccination appointment as soon as possible. You can take paid time off work for this, although please try to arrange an appointment at the beginning or end of your working day.

The NHS aims to ensure that the highest risk patients are able to get vaccinated first. Subject to vaccine dose supply and following prioritisation of those initially eligible, the NHS aims to extend eligibility shortly to people aged between 50 and 64.  If you are aged 50-64 (or due to turn 50 shortly) and have not yet received an eligibility letter, it is possible you’ll become eligible soon. Please contact your GP surgery for advice.

Although we understand flu vaccination stocks are in high demand and prioritised for eligible individuals, we do encourage and support all colleagues to get vaccinated if possible.

Getting a flu vaccination is one thing we can do to help keep our community safer this winter.