More than 300,000 south west Londoners eligible for a Covid-19 booster jab have received their vital top-up dose to deliver protection through winter – the equivalent of nearly 165 every hour.
Some 304,585 seasonal boosters had been delivered by the end of Sunday 27 November since appointments started on 12 September, taking the total number of Covid-19 jabs administered in south west London to almost 3.6 million.
These latest coronavirus figures come just over two years after the start of the vaccination programme, with Croydon University Hospital believed to have delivered the first jab in London on December 8, 2020.
The local NHS has also delivered more than 270,000 flu vaccinations in around three months. According to recently released data, there was an average of 30 patients a day with flu in London hospitals, more than 10 times the number seen at the beginning of December last year.
With coronavirus, flu and other respiratory illnesses in circulation, people are being reminded to get their jabs now to ensure maximum protection throughout the festive and new year period and beyond.
Local Clinical Lead GP Dr Vasa Gnanapragasam features in a new YouTube video – https://youtu.be/5vSFtd02X_o – calling for eligible people to ensure they get their Covid-19 booster jab
Dr Gnanapragasam said: “Once again NHS staff and volunteers have worked incredibly hard to provide further protection from Covid-19 for those most susceptible to serious illness from both coronavirus and flu this winter.
“With the festive period now upon us – when we all like to see family and friends and celebrate with loved ones of all ages – I strongly urge people who are due their booster or flu jabs to come forward as soon as possible and join the hundreds of thousands who have already had theirs in south west London.
“Please also remember it is never too late to get protected – there are vaccination sites across south west London ready and waiting to welcome you with staff happy to answer any questions you may have.”
A seasonal booster (autumn booster) can be booked online for anyone who is:
- aged 50 or over
- pregnant
- aged 5 and over and at high risk due to a health condition
- aged 5 and over and at high risk because of a weakened immune system
- aged 5 and over and lives with someone who has a weakened immune system
- aged 16 and over and is a carer, either paid or unpaid
- a frontline health and social care worker.
More information about the booster jab can be found on the website for the NHS in South West London.
More information about the Covid-19 boosterAdults who are eligible for an NHS flu vaccination:
- are 50 and over (including those who will be 50 by 31 March 2023)
- have certain health conditions
- are pregnant
- are in long-stay residential care
- receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
- live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system, such as someone living with HIV, someone who has had a transplant, or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
The nasal spray flu vaccine is free on the NHS for:
- children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2022 (born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2020)
- all primary school children (Reception to Year 6)
- some secondary school aged children
- children aged 2 to 17 years with long-term health conditions.