Boots, LloydsPharmacy and Asda come collectively to help largest ever winter vaccine drive
This 12 months will see the nation’s largest flu programme in historical past with 35 million folks eligible for a free vaccine
A nationwide promoting marketing campaign launches right now (Friday 22 October) as a part of the federal government’s name to the general public to get their COVID-19 booster and flu jabs, to guard themselves and their family members this winter.
The multimedia marketing campaign will run on outside billboards, broadcast and neighborhood radio and TV to help the nationwide vaccine drive.
The colder climate historically results in elevated transmission of viruses. Specialists have warned that this 12 months there could possibly be a major flu surge coinciding with persevering with or rising COVID-19 circumstances. Immunity to flu is predicted to be decrease attributable to decrease ranges of the virus in circulation final winter.
Vaccines give excessive ranges of safety however immunity reduces over time, so it’s important weak folks come ahead to get their COVID-19 booster vaccine to top-up their defences and defend themselves this winter. For these not eligible for a booster, the safety from two doses is enough.
Vaccines present the absolute best safety in opposition to an infection and severe illness. The federal government is pushing the largest ever winter vaccine marketing campaign for COVID-19 and flu, so folks can defend themselves and their family members this winter and play their function in lowering stress on the NHS.
The marketing campaign tv advert hits screens right now and asks folks to “get vaccinated, get boosted, get protected.” It options Michelle, an NHS nurse, explaining the advantages of the flu jab and COVID-19 booster vaccine. The brand new tv advert might be seen in primetime spots alongside Emmerdale and Coronation Road in addition to daytime exhibits corresponding to This Morning and Unfastened Ladies.
Focused digital channels will even carry the marketing campaign adverts together with social media platforms, digital radio and on-line video corresponding to YouTube.
Folks might be invited for the COVID-19 booster jab when it’s their flip – in the event that they haven’t been contacted inside every week of reaching 6 months since their second jab they’ll name 119 or ebook on-line. Those that are eligible for a free flu vaccine can ebook an appointment by their GP surgical procedure or native pharmacy.
The supply of a primary and second COVID-19 vaccine stays open to anybody who’s eligible. Vaccines can be found for these aged 12-15 to supply the absolute best safety this winter in faculties, and they’ll even be obtainable in vaccine centres from this weekend.
This week the nation’s main pharmacies have joined forces to encourage folks to return ahead and get their free flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster jab when eligible. Alongside impartial pharmacists, Boots, LloydsPharmacy and Asda – who collectively have over 4,000 pharmacies throughout the UK – have backed the decision for folks to get vaccinated for the absolute best safety this winter.
Secretary of State for Well being and Social Care, Sajid Javid, stated:
Our vaccine programme is constructing a wall of defence throughout the nation and our booster rollout is now effectively underway with greater than 4 million jabs in arms.
As we go into winter, it’s important that eligible folks get their booster jab and their flu jab to guard themselves, their family members and the NHS.
It is a nationwide mission and I’m vastly grateful to the general public, volunteers and NHS employees rolling out jabs. It’s unbelievable to see a few of our largest excessive road pharmacies give their backing to the winter vaccination programme.
Vaccine confidence is excessive with information from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics exhibiting almost all (94%) of these aged 50 to 69 say they might be prone to get their COVID-19 booster if provided, with the determine rising to 98% for these over 70. Equally, over three quarters (77%) of these 50-69 can be prone to get the flu vaccine and almost all (94%) of these over 70.
Dr Raj Patel, GP and Deputy Nationwide Medical Director of Major Take care of NHS England, stated:
Flu is a big killer and final 12 months GPs and pharmacists jabbed file numbers of individuals and as we head into what could possibly be one of the difficult winters but for the NHS, it has by no means been extra essential to get your flu and covid booster jab.
Flu has a severe influence on the well being of hundreds of individuals each winter and it has by no means been simpler to make sure you are protected, so I might urge everybody to ebook an appointment straight with you GP or pharmacist as quickly as potential.
Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation, UK Well being Safety Company stated:
That is the primary winter when COVID-19 and seasonal flu are anticipated to be circulating collectively, placing extra lives in danger. Vaccinations are essential to guard in opposition to each illnesses.
Please ebook an appointment if you’re eligible for the flu vaccine, or get your COVID-19 booster as quickly as you’re invited – which is due 6 months after a second dose.
Michelle, Nurse who options within the advert stated:
As a frontline employee for the NHS, I’ve seen first-hand the devastating influence each Covid and flu can have in winter. Vaccines supply one of the best safety and I hope this marketing campaign drives house to the significance of coming ahead in your vaccine.
GP and TV physician, Dr Daybreak Harper stated:
It’s actually essential that if you’re eligible to take up the supply for the completely different vaccinations – that is each the flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster – you accomplish that.
1000’s of individuals die from the flu annually and this 12 months we’re anticipating excessive ranges to flow into as we head into winter. With the added risk of additional COVID-19 and our immunity wavering, it’s so very important that individuals get protected in opposition to each these lethal viruses.
It is a enormous drive and we’d like everybody do their half by defending themselves, and people round them. You will get your COVID-19 booster and flu vaccinations at vaccination centres, GPs or neighborhood pharmacists so please, be certain that to ebook your appointment as quickly as you’re invited.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, Chief Government Affiliation of Impartial A number of Pharmacies, stated:
Neighborhood pharmacies are already on observe to smash final 12 months’s flu vaccination file this season which showcases that sufferers are eager to get safety in opposition to the flu.
Pharmacies, bravely remained open all through the pandemic regardless of the dangers and are more and more seen as first port of name for members of the neighborhood to satisfy their fundamental healthcare wants.
They supply accessibility and comfort for sufferers to get their flu vaccination. As we’re approaching winter and with the potential increased circumstances of Covid, it’s important that every one eligible sufferers get vaccinated.
Marc Donovan, Chief Pharmacist at Boots, stated:
Boots provides free NHS and personal flu jabs and are seeing excessive demand this 12 months. We’ve already taken over a million flu jab bookings so far however there are nonetheless loads of appointments obtainable at our pharmacies throughout the UK.
Boots can also be supporting the NHS to ship COVID-19 booster jabs this winter at choose pharmacies, providing a free flu jab on the identical time to all eligible sufferers. Having each vaccines provides optimum safety from getting critically unwell from these viruses within the coming months.
Victoria Steele, Superintendent Pharmacist at LloydsPharmacy, stated:
t may be very probably that we’ll see a lot better ranges of transmission of the influenza virus this winter. Immunity and safety are more and more on the forefront of our minds, and we’ve got seen this by the excessive quantity of flu bookings at LloydsPharmacy this 12 months and thru elevated gross sales of winter medicines, as many begin to take precautions as we head into chilly and flu season.
It can be crucial that all of us do what we will to guard ourselves and family members this winter by getting each the flu vaccine and the COVID booster vaccine, for individuals who are eligible. I’d encourage folks to ebook as quickly as potential, because it does take time for the physique to develop its antibodies after any vaccine. You possibly can ebook your appointment for a flu vaccine on-line or by visiting your native LloydsPharmacy.
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