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26
Oct 2020
Local healthcare professionals have urged people eligible to get their flu jab this year to protect the NHS against a difficult winter season.
This year there has been an increase in demand for the vaccine. New groups are now eligible including those aged 50-64, and people who may have previously chosen not to take up the vaccine are also contributing to the rise.
Public Health England has warned there are greater risks associated with contracting covid and the flu together especially if the person is in a high risk group.
With increased demand and the need for social distancing, GP surgeries and others are having to carefully coordinate the way they deliver vaccinations.
In Boroughbridge, the local Lions group is helping Church Lane surgery with traffic management to ensure the increased number of patients get to their appointments safely.
Boroughbridge Lions representative Paul Bullivant said:
Dr Duncan Petty, who lives in Harrogate and is a member of the English Board of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, has urged people to get the vaccine to help prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed during winter.
He said:
Dr Petty is confident the supply of flu vaccines currently held by the NHS is enough to cover demand. He said it is the logistics behind vaccinating an increased number of people that could take time.
It is urging people to take this "additional layer of protection".
Dr Petty added:
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