NHS in Bucks urges people to get their Covid and winter flu jabs
The Integrated Care Board in Buckinghamshire is urging those eligible for the jabs to get them over the next two weeks
The NHS is urging anyone still eligible for Covid and flu vaccines to book an appointment over the next two weeks.
Booking systems will close from December 15, with December 14 the last day to make a booking.
After that, some pharmacies may still offer the jabs, but the NHS is hoping to get as many vaccinated over the next 12 days as possible.
"We've seen an increase in both seasonal flu, and a continued rise in the number of people needing ongoing care as a result of Covid infections."
The Integrated Care Board covering Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire (BOB ICB), reports a higher amount of vaccinations than other areas across the UK, but the service is hoping to keep these numbers rising.
The numbers are reassuring for Chief Nursing Officer at the BCB ICB, Rachael Corser.
She, however, pointed out the need to continue the vaccination rollout to ensure as may people are vaccinated as possible to allow the vaccines' efficiency ahead of the festive period.
She said: "We've seen an increase in both seasonal flu, and a continued rise in the number of people needing ongoing care as a result of Covid infections."
"We've still got some hesitancy amongst the population in uptaking the vaccines..."
Vaccination is the best way for people to ensure people are protected against Covid and the winter flu at Christmas, when viruses spread more easily as people spend more time indoors.
Ms Corser said: "We've still got some hesitancy amongst the population in uptaking the vaccines, but it's great news, over 50% of the population have had both flu and Covid vaccines, but we definitely need to do more."
This season, a record 4.5 million people have received their flu and Covid vaccines in the same appointment, with over 50% of the population already vaccinated.
This amounts to a total of 11,404,669 Covid and 16,190,661 flu vaccinations administered by the NHS in England since the start of their autumn campaign.
The NHS is hoping vaccination will help ease pressures on their services across the festive period.