Protect yourselves and your loves ones this winter

People in Blackburn and Darwen are being urged to boost their immunity and build another wall of defence against Covid and seasonal flu this winter.

It is part of NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care’s call to the public to get their COVID-19 booster and flu jabs, as the weather turns colder.

Due to colder weather which means more people are staying indoors, experts have warned there could be a significant flu surge this winter coinciding with continuing or rising Covid-19 cases.

Vaccines have helped us build a wall of defence and return to a more normal way of life – everyone eligible should boost their immunity with Covid-19 booster vaccines and flu vaccines.

Covid-19 vaccine boosters and the flu vaccine will help maintain the protection for the most vulnerable from serious illness and hospitalization through the winter months.

The borough’s Covid case rates are still lower than the England and North West averages – according to confirmed case data to 9 November, Blackburn with Darwen’s infection rate is 286.6 /100k, but more local residents are being admitted to Royal Blackburn Hospital needing treatment for Covid.

Taking up the vaccines when you are offered is the best way to beat this and bring down the infection rates and the need for hospital treatment.

Those who are currently eligible for the COVID-19 booster include:

• Those living in residential care homes for older adults
• All adults aged 50 years or over
• Frontline health and social care workers
• All those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (as set out in the Green Book) and adult carers
• Adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals

For the flu vaccine include:

• People with long term health conditions ​
• All adults aged 50 years or over
• Health and social care workers​
• Pregnant women
• Young children (up to secondary school year 11)​

Councillor Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said:

I hope everyone who is eligible will take up the offer of their Covid booster and the flu vaccine as the best way to protect themselves and people they love this winter.

It really is the best way to help yourself and to have a healthy winter and a happier Christmas and help to make sure your family and friends are more protected as well. It really is so important, and I urge everyone who can to take the steps to get themselves vaccinated when they can.”

People will be invited for the COVID-19 booster jab when it’s their turn – if they have not been contacted within a week of reaching 6 months since their second jab they can call 119 or book online.

Those who are eligible for a free flu vaccine can book an appointment through their GP surgery or local pharmacy. To find out if you’re eligible and book your winter vaccines visit: nhs.uk/wintervaccinations