Firstly, welcome to the latest addition to my website the ‘science and health’ news section. This segment of information will be added to my news tab as other news stories are.
Th reason for this expansion is because I wanted to diversify what I spoke about on here as there were so many stories pertaining to science and general health that I, especially during this covid crisis, wanted to talk about.
That brings me to this story, my first story on the current health situation in the UK.
High street pharmacy Boots has suspended bookings for those aged 65 and over at branches across the UK. While, LloydsPharmacy is only allowing bookings for customers that have registered an interest online due to ‘unprecedented demand’.
This means pensioners could face severe delays getting a flu vaccine this winter, because of the surge in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic leading to shortages.
Waiting lists at some GP surgeries are at high levels, leading to a potential several week wait for the jab meaning those aged 65 or above are facing the prospect of being without a flu vaccine over the winter, despite the government promising that, as the most vulnerable, they would be at the front of the queue.
Officials are aiming to immunise 30 million Britons this winter, in the largest flu vaccination programmer ever undertaken in the UK, to ensure health services are not overwhelmed by a sudden influx of Covid-19 and flu patients.
Who is eligible for a free flu vaccine?
Health officials are trying to ensure everyone who needs a flu vaccine can get one this autumn.
The jab will be made available to 30million people for free – in the largest British vaccination programme ever undertaken.
It can be booked through visiting your local GP or pharmacy.
The Department of Health has said it is available to the following Britons:
- Adults aged 65 and over
- People with some medical conditions including diabetes, heart failure and asthma
- People who were required to shield from coronavirus
- Pregnant women
- Children aged between two and 11
- Health and social care workers
People between the ages of 50 and 64 – who are eligible to get vaccinated for free for the first time – will be contacted ‘later in the year’, the NHS says.
However, there is hope that the precautions taken to deal with COVID-19 should have the some effect on preventing the spread influenza aswell.
The hope is that we won’t be facing a double whammy of infections this winter, especially if people continue to stick to restrictions before a COVID-19 vaccine is available.
