The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Eligible residents in Lincolnshire will be offered the COVID and flu jabs from this week.
The adult vaccination programme was due to start in October 2023, but those who are in care homes or housebound will be vaccinated in the scheme that launched on Monday.
The change from October to September is a ‘precautionary’ measure and follows an announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care and the UK Health Security Agency.
“With this in mind, nationally the NHS has been asked to bring the vaccination programme forward and we will be working quickly to ensure as many eligible people as possible are vaccinated by the end of October,” said Julie Humphreys, head of clinical services at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust.
“As with previous rounds of the COVID vaccination programme we will start by vaccinating residents of care homes, and those most at risk first – including people who are immunosuppressed from September 19. Following this we will then begin to vaccinate adults aged 65 or over as well as carers, pregnant women and frontline health and social care staff.”
Those eligible may receive an invite from their local GP practice or they can make an appointment by calling 119 or use the National Booking Service website.
Frontline health and social care workers will receive their invitation via their employer.
“Whilst we will be encouraging people to have both a COVID and a flu vaccination at the same time to maximise protection during what is likely to be a very challenging winter, we understand some people will prefer to have their vaccinations separately and this is fine. The important thing is to have both if you are eligible and to come forward as soon as possible,” said Julie.
