Sajid Javid arrives at Downing Boulevard in London, Britain February 13, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville
LONDON, July 16 (Reuters) – Britain said on Saturday it would expand its winter flu vaccination programme to millions more of us, making it the most huge ever, as it seeks to withhold away from stress on hospitals with the COVID-19 pandemic aloof circulating.
The authorities said it would offer shots to 35 million of us including older schoolchildren and all those traditional over 50 as half of a programme starting in September that is likely to be delivered alongside the that you just may perhaps well additionally procure shipping of COVID vaccine booster doses.
“Flu will also be a critical sickness and we want to fabricate a wall of safety by immunising a file sequence of of us,” effectively being minister Sajid Javid said.
“With the nation getting nearer to no longer unique existence, we must learn to are living with COVID-19 alongside loads of viruses and we’re offering the free flu jab to millions more of us to support withhold them earn this winter.”
Final 365 days, 81% of of us traditional 65 and over in England got a flu shot. To date 88% of the adult population in Britain contain had their first COVID dose and 67.5% are absolutely vaccinated.
Admissions to hospital for treatment for flu within the path of the winter in most cases places the order-plod Nationwide Health Carrier below huge stress, and effectively being officials fear a aggregate of critical flu cases along with of us aloof desiring treatment for the coronavirus may perhaps well leave hospitals struggling to cope.
“Final winter, flu activity used to be extremely low, nonetheless right here will not be any clarification for complacency as it device much less of us contain constructed up a defence against the virus,” said Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England.
“Mixed with the probability that COVID-19 will aloof be circulating, this makes the coming flu season highly unpredictable.”
Reporting by Michael Holden. Editing by Andrew MacAskill
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Suggestions.
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UK says it will expand its winter flu shot programme – Reuters
