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Millions of people will be encouraged to book flu vaccines online from Monday in a bid to ease pressure on the NHS this winter.
NHS bosses have brought forward the vaccination program following the emergence of the new Covid variant last month.
Figures show that 3.7 million people have received their flu jab since the campaign started on September 11, with many choosing to ‘double up’ and receive flu and Covid vaccines at the same time.
2.4 million Covid shots were administered in the same period. Last winter, NHS staff treated significant numbers of patients in hospital with respiratory illnesses.
The NHS will urge millions of people to book a flu jab online from Monday to ease pressure on the health service over winter
About 30 million people will be eligible for a flu vaccine this year, including people over 65, people in clinical risk groups and pregnant women
And bosses are concerned that hospitals will struggle this winter under pressure on services from ongoing industrial action.
The 30 million people eligible for a flu vaccine this year include people age 65 and older; those aged 6 months to less than 65 years in clinical risk groups; pregnant woman; all children aged 2 or 3; school-age children; those in long-term residential care centers; caregivers and close contacts of immunocompromised individuals.
Those who are eligible can book via the NHS website, the NHS app or by calling 119 from 8am.