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Public encouraged to play their part and get protected this winter with COVID-19 booster and flu vaccinations

10 November 2023

Play your part in keeping well this winter by keeping up to date with both your flu vaccination and COVID-19 booster vaccination.

The NHS has stepped up its vaccinations programme in response to the new COVID-19 variant with more sites than ever, making it as easy and convenient as possible for people to get vital protection this winter.

People eligible during this year’s vaccination campaign include all aged 65 and over, care home residents, frontline health and social care staff, those at increased risk because they are pregnant or have a certain underlying health condition, unpaid carers and household contacts of those at risk.

It is important for those who are eligible to top up their protection, even if they have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.

East Cheshire NHS Trust Medical Director, John Hunter, said: “Vaccines are our best protection against flu and COVID-19, and I strongly encourage all eligible people to come forward for their lifesaving winter vaccines as soon as they can.

“Those eligible can now easily book a COVID vaccine online – it takes just a few minutes and there are more sites than ever before offering the vaccine across England, so please come forward as soon as you can to give yourself and your loved ones vital protection over the coming months.”

The NHS winter flu and COVID vaccination programme provides vital protection to those eligible and their families over winter, keeping people from developing serious illnesses, and helping to minimise hospitalisations during busy winter months.

All eligible adults can book their flu vaccine through www.nhs.uk/book-a-flu-vaccination, by downloading the NHS App or calling 119.

Notes for editors

  • For further information about East Cheshire NHS Trust, contact the Trust press office on 01625 663935. For urgent, out-of-hours enquiries, please call 07748 384745.
  • East Cheshire NHS Trust is the main provider of acute and community health services for the people of East Cheshire. The trust is based at Macclesfield District General Hospital.
  • Follow East Cheshire NHS Trust on Twitter for all the latest news @EastCheshireNHS
  • Donations to the charity supports the trust and enables East Cheshire NHS Trust to purchase lifesaving equipment and items not funded by the NHS. You can make a donation to our charity by text. Text hosp45 followed by either £5 or £10 to 70070. Your text might look like this ‘hosp45 £10’. It is free to text us, and your text won’t come out of any inclusive text package – you only pay for the cost of your donation. Thank you for supporting our charity.