Skip to main content

Boots suspends booking for flu jabs amid 'unprecedented demand' after Britons were told to get vaccinated to ease burden of second Covid-19 wave

Boots has suspended bookings for flu jabs amid an 'unprecedented' demand for vaccinations this winter.

The high-street chemist is now limiting vaccines for the most vulnerable in society, including the over-65s and people with serious underlying health woes.

NHS England has been actively encouraging people to get their flu jab this year to prevent an influx of influenza and Covid-19 patients overwhelming hospitals. 

Normally, anyone can sign up to have their shot by a Boots' pharmacist but this year the chain has had to prioritise the most at-risk groups to make sure they're first in line.

Elderly people and those with co-morbidities have the highest chance of needing hospital care if they catch the flu. Therefore, they are they most likely to be a burden on the NHS as it struggles with a second wave of coronavirus.

NHS England says it has enough stocks to supply a record 30million-plus doses during phases throughout winter. 

Boots has suspended its booking system for flu jabs amid an 'unprecedented' demand for vaccinations this winter

Boots has suspended its booking system for flu jabs amid an 'unprecedented' demand for vaccinations this winter

NHS England has been actively encouraging people to get their flu jab this year to prevent an influx of influenza and Covid-19 patients overwhelming hospitals

NHS England has been actively encouraging people to get their flu jab this year to prevent an influx of influenza and Covid-19 patients overwhelming hospitals 

WHO IS ALREADY ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE FLU VACCINE? 

In 2020/21 groups eligible for the NHS funded flu vaccination programme are currently the same as last year.

This includes:

But according to a joint letter issued from the DHSC, Public Health England and, NHS England and Improvement, on May 14, the list may change if the programme is expanded this year.

This could include:

The letter added: 'We anticipate that concerns about COVID-19 may increase demand for flu vaccination in all groups this year.'

In a statement, Boots said: 'This year, our customers have been more conscious than ever about protecting the health of themselves and their families, and protecting against flu has been front-of-mind for many of us.

'As a result, we have seen more people than ever booking early to get their flu vaccinations.'

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: 'Delivery of flu vaccinations is phased over the autumn and into winter, and priority is rightly given to those who are most at-risk with others being asked to wait to later in the year.' 

This year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the flu jab will be offered to the over-50s for the first time. In Scotland, it's being given to the over-55s.

But these groups will only be given access after the vulnerable groups - which include over-65s, pregnant women, and people with conditions like lung disease or diabetes.

Last winter 25million people in England were offered the flu jab, with officials expanding the annual vaccination programme to include all Year Six children for the first time.

All over-65s, pregnant women, NHS workers and people with serious long-term illnesses such as heart disease and Parkinson's are also eligible for the free jab.

Figures show there are around 10million people aged between 50 and 65 in the UK, meaning the vaccination scheme has had to increase by 40 per cent in size to catch all of them.  

Supplying the flu jab will be a logistical challenge for the NHS because the vaccine has to be kept in a refrigerator at 35F to 46F (2C to 8C). A slight rise or fall in temperature can ruin the shot and make it unusable. 

But NHS England has reassured people there are adequate stocks in place. Health bosses say they will provide guidance for how pharmacists and GPs can access stockpiles if they run out. 

It is not clear if the UK will be hit with a bad bout of flu this year. Some experts believe the social distancing measures in place already will stifle the spread of any new influenza strains. 

Flu infections during the cold long months in the southern hemisphere are a canary in a coalmine for how hard the NHS will be hit by outbreaks, and are used to design the preventative flu vaccine. And this year Australia and New Zealand have escaped a bad flu season, which top experts say is down to social distancing measures. 

Most people who get the flu escape with only a mild illness but patients struck down with a severe bout can be hospitalised. Seasonal flu has a mortality rate of around 0.1 per cent. 

The tell-tale symptoms of Covid-19 — a fever, cough and the loss of smell or taste — could be mistaken for the flu, which has similar effects and is much worse than a common cold. 

This could cause confusion among the population. If they have the coronavirus, they may think they only have the flu if they have not been given a vaccine to protect them.  

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o