NHS South West London has reminded local residents to protect themselves this winter by getting both their Covid-19 booster and flu vaccinations.
Dr Naz Jivani, the local GP Borough Lead, told the Kingston Courier: “I would urge those eligible for the free flu vaccine and Covid-19 booster jab to book their appointments as soon as possible.
“For the first time we will have Covid-19 and flu co-circulating. Both of these viruses are serious.”
Who is eligible?
For the Covid-19 booster jab, people living in residential care homes, all adults aged 50 and over, frontline health and social workers, those aged 16-19 years old with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe disease, adult carers, and adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals.
Those eligible for a free flu vaccine are those over 50, those under 50 with certain conditions, pregnant women, people who receive a carer’s allowance or are the main carer for an older disabled person, people who live with someone who is more likely to get infections and frontline health or social care workers.
Where can you get your vaccine?
Hawks Road pharmacy is offering walk-ins and booster Pfizer vaccinations for those aged 16 and over every Sunday until the October 17 2021.
You can also contact your GP surgery to arrange an appointment.
Why do we need both vaccines?
The call comes as UK Health Security Agency chief executive, Dr Jenny Harries, warned that catching the flu and Covid-19 at the same time could make death twice as likely.
Harries said: “We should be worried about flu each winter. I think people still don’t realise it can be a fatal disease.”
Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam warned that levels of natural immunity against the flu will be lower than usual due to Covid-19 restrictions, and that flu may be of higher concern than usual as a result.
Kingston-upon-Thames remains the London borough with the highest rate of Covid-19, as cases increased 12.2% between October 5 2021 and October 11 2021
Over 1.9 million vaccinations have been delivered across south west London, with 85 per cent of its adult population having received a first dose.
