Flu and Covid-19 immunisation
Flu and Covid-19 immunisation
Plans for autumn 2022
In 2020, annual flu jabs were offered to all those over 50 years of age because of concerns that the combination of coronavirus and flu infection may be particularly dangerous, and also because reducing flu infections may help to reduce pressure on the NHS and social care caused by dealing with coronavirus.
Initially the intent for 2022/23 was to revert to vaccinating the over-65s but concerns about the early start of the flu season, with very high case rates occurring in Australia over 2022, and the potential for two significant respiratory viruses circulating together (a “twindemic”) led to the policy being amended in July 2022. Now, all those over 50 years of age will be targeted for immunisation with both flu and Covid-19 vaccines, alongside high-risk patients.
Secondary school children in years seven, eight and nine will also be targeted for flu vaccines. At the time of writing, the process for supplying flu vaccines alongside Covid vaccine boosters, had yet to be decided. One option is to give them both at the same time.
Community pharmacists are in a good position to use their patient medication records to target patients and remind them to have their jabs, or to administer them. Many pharmacies are now commissioned by the health service to provide flu jabs as well as Covid-19 vaccines, although access to supplies remains an issue.
Uptake of Covid-19 boosters continues to be an issue and pharmacy teams can refer to PM's article on vaccine hesitancy for further information.
Autumn vaccination programme
Covid-19 vaccine autumn booster:
- All adults aged 50 years and over
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- Staff working in care homes for older adults
- Persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group
- Persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- Persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers.
Amendments to flu vaccine programme 2022/23: additional groups
- 50 to 64-year-olds who are not in a clinical risk group to be offered vaccination from mid-October once people who are more vulnerable to Covid-19 and flu, including those in clinical risk groups, have been offered their vaccine
- Secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9 will be offered the vaccine in order of school year (starting with the youngest first). This group is likely to be offered vaccination later in the year once children aged 2 and 3 and primary school-aged children have been vaccinated
- Any remaining vaccine will be offered to years 10 and 11 (subject to availability).