The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is rolling out the national flu vaccination and COVID-19 booster programme from today, Wednesday 1 October.

The best time to get your vaccinations is well before winter illnesses peak, so we’re encouraging everyone to get in early and get their #JabDone in October and November.

Vanessa Purday, Chief Medical Officer at the Royal Devon, said: “The flu vaccine prevented between 96,000 and 120,200 hospitalisations in England last season. For the Royal Devon, this meant we were able to keep more people out of hospital and well in the home. I strongly encourage as many people as possible to get vaccinated this season. Don’t wait until we reach the winter peak, get your vaccinations early.”

Flu and COVID-19 can affect anyone but are more serious for some groups.

Getting vaccinated is the best protection.

If you are eligible for a vaccine and catch flu or COVID-19 you are more likely to have milder symptoms and recover faster, reducing the risk of hospitalisation.

The vaccine programme focuses on those at greatest risk of getting seriously ill. Those eligible for free vaccinations this year are:

COVID-19

•    Adults aged 75 years and over
•    Residents in care homes for older adults
•    Individuals who are immunosuppressed, aged 6 months and over (as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book).

If eligible, you will be invited to get your booster, but you don’t have to wait to book.

Flu

•    Pregnant women 
•    All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025 
•    Primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6) 
•    Secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11) 
•    All children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years 
•    Those aged 65 years and over
•    Those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza chapter 19)
•    Those in long-stay residential care homes
•    Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
•    Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals 

Carolyn Mills, Chief Nursing Officer at the Royal Devon, said: “You need your flu vaccine every year. This is because flu viruses can change from one winter to the next, and they’re updated each season to give the best possible protection.”

The National Booking Service is open for appointments. To make one go to: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/vaccination-and-booking-services/  
 
See a list of upcoming clinics run by the Royal Devon here: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=bfb9dc0b53778693a906f18b0f9810bd5c4baac6e5e9422f5bf51872781ed964@group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Europe/London  
 
These clinics welcome walk-ins as well as taking bookings through the National Booking Service.

Alternatively, GPs and some pharmacies are also offering the vaccine.