Chief Nurse Issues Urgent Flu Jab Appeal
England’s Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) has made an urgent appeal for those eligible to schedule their flu vaccination appointments promptly, ahead of the peak flu season.
Early Start to Flu Season Raises Concerns
Last week, Duncan Burton warned that this year’s flu season began unusually early, with particularly high infection rates among children and young people.
Flu Vaccination Priority Groups
The CNO emphasized that there are just weeks left before the worst of the flu typically hits, urging all eligible individuals to get vaccinated without delay.
- People aged 65 and over
- Under-65s in clinical risk groups
- Residents and staff in care homes
- Carers
- Pregnant women
- Close contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Children
Vaccination Progress and Availability
NHS England announced that 2.4 million additional vaccination appointments would be available next week. Since September, more than 13 million flu vaccines have been administered nationwide.
Currently, three in five care home residents (59.4%) have received their flu vaccine, and 2.3 million doses have been given to eligible children.
“It is only weeks to go before the worst of the flu season typically bites. We encourage everyone eligible to book their appointment urgently,” said the Chief Nursing Officer.
This appeal highlights the critical need to protect vulnerable populations as the flu season intensifies.
Author’s summary: England’s Chief Nursing Officer urges eligible groups to book flu vaccinations urgently as an unusually early flu season threatens high infection rates, especially among children and vulnerable groups.