Cheshire residents have taken up their flu jab in record numbers with nearly 264,000 people in the area receiving their vaccination by 31 December 2021.
The flu vaccine is free on the NHS to all those over the age of 50, those with certain health conditions, frontline NHS workers, pregnant women and those in long-stay residential care. Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) reported that over a quarter of million people had had their dose before the turn of the year.
If you would like to find out if you are eligible, you can visit www.nhs.uk and search for 'flu'.
Figures for the borough show a total uptake of 68.9 per cent among eligible people, which is already 5.6 per cent higher than in 2020-21. Cheshire has already exceeded the 75 per cent national target in all but two categories, those with liver disease and women who are pregnant. Although Cheshire's figure for uptake among pregnant women is the second highest in nine areas across Cheshire and Merseyside.
The CCG are due to boost these figures with specific clinics and maternity services.
Clinical chair of NHS CCG, GP Dr. Andrew Wilson said: "It’s great news that Cheshire people have come forward in record numbers this winter to protect themselves and those around them from a nasty virus that can kill up to 20,000 people in England in a bad year.
"By doing the right thing for themselves and their loved ones, they have also helped protect the NHS from being overwhelmed by a combination of flu and Covid-19.
"There’s still time for eligible people to get their free jab if they haven’t already had it. Just call your GP practice to make an appointment."
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