As the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland prepares to roll out autumn boosters to people aged 55+ from next week, the UK Health Security Agency is urging everyone eligible for a free flu vaccine and a Covid booster to take up the offer as soon as possible, ahead of what could be a difficult winter with respiratory viruses circulating widely.

Last winter flu was held largely in check by Covid restrictions when people mixed a lot less and worked from home. This helped to protect people from catching flu but has also led to lower levels of natural immunity to this strain building up within the population. There are also early indications that Covid rates are beginning to rise ahead of winter, increasing the threat to people’s health.

Covid is more serious in older people and in people with certain underlying health conditions. The protection offered by each dose of the Covid vaccine reduces over time and therefore it is very important that eligible people take up the offer of the next booster dose, in order to receive maximum protection ahead of the winter period.

Individuals who catch both flu and Covid at the same time, known as co-infection, are around twice as likely to die compared to those who only have Covid.

For all those who are eligible, taking up both the Covid booster and the flu jab is an essential form of protection against the most severe respiratory viruses in circulation this winter.

You can book an appointment through the National Booking Service online at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/.

You can also book by calling 119.