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:
“Last year there were queues around the surgery with people waiting so this year we are helping them with traffic management. This year patients have timed slots so it’s much easier. We’re happy to do our bit to help the community.”
Volunteers from Boroughbridge Lions volunteered to help with traffic management. Credit: Sue Johnson.
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:
“It is important for people to protect themselves, but also the NHS: if you are at risk of catching covid, getting both is dangerous.
“The sensible thing is to get the vaccine so the NHS isn’t overwhelmed. It’s the one thing people can do to help themselves and the NHS.”
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.
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The NHS website says those at most risk will be vaccinated first, and those aged 50-64 will be contacted in November and December.
North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has said the supplies of the vaccine are being prioritised by GP practices based on clinical need.
Its governing body GP, Dr Bruce Willoughby, said:
“We’re seeing a high patient demand for the influenza vaccine and early indications suggest the uptake in the Harrogate district is higher than this time last year.
“In spite of the challenges presented by covid 19, we’re not seeing any particular issues with flu clinics. Practices continue to prioritise the highest risk patient groups first, but across York and North Yorkshire we fully intend to reach all eligible patients.”
It is urging people to take this “additional layer of protection”.
Dr Petty added:
Free flu jabs to begin in North Yorkshire“It may cause a few side effects but it could save your life. People need to remember it’s not just for yourself it may be for others in your family or to help your local hospital.”
Health bosses in North Yorkshire have reassured vulnerable patients they will receive free flu jabs from this month.
GPs have begun to write to those classed as high risk, which includes care home residents, over 65s, pregnant women and frontline health staff, to invite them for the jab either this month or October.
People aged 50 to 64 who do not have a health condition are likely to be invited to receive jabs in November and December once high risk patients have been vaccinated.
Parents and carers of children from reception to year seven will also be contacted to seek consent for the jab as part of the school immunisation service.
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Health bosses at NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group have said patients who were high risk and shielding had expressed concern about being in contact with people outside their “bubble”.
But Dr Bruce Willoughby, GP clinical lead for primary care and population health at NHS North Yorkshire CCG, said practices will have measures in place to vaccinate safely.
He said:
“Immunisation is the best way to help protect people from flu. It’s a virus that has the potential to leave people very poorly, lead to hospitalisation and sometimes even death.
“We know that clinically vulnerable patients who have been shielding during the covid pandemic are still extremely worried about having contact with anyone outside of their household ‘bubble’, but I want to reassure those patients that practices will have arrangements in place to ensure they can administer vaccinations in a safe and bio-secure way.
“There will be strict safety measures in place, including social distancing, appropriate PPE, and strict hygiene protocols.”