Winter vaccination programme brought forward in Wiltshire
Care home residents and housebound patients are being visited for their boosters
Last updated 12th Sep 2023
A new variant of Covid-19 has seen the Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board bring the winter vaccine programme forward.
Flu and Covid vaccinations are available now to those most vulnerable to falling seriously ill.
Residents of care homes and housebound patients across Wiltshire will be visited by teams from local GP practices or dedicated community vaccinators.
The remaining eligible groups, which incudes over 65s, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems will be contacted to book an appointment at pharmacy or GP practice from Monday 18th September.
The national booking system will also open on Monday (18th September) for those who want to be more proactive about arranging their Covid-19 vaccination.
Gill May, Chief Nurse, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said starting the programme early gives them extra time to ensure the most vulnerable of our communities are protected:
“Both flu and Covid-19 can cause serious problems for even the healthiest of adults, and as the two viruses tend to become more prevalent during the colder months, when more of us spend more time indoors, it’s really important that those most at risk get protected.
“Having the vaccines not only gives a person’s immunity a much-needed boost, but also makes them less infectious to others, which is especially important right now, with new strains of both flu and Covid-19 on the horizon.”