The beefed-up program, together with an additional 3 billion pounds ($5.2 billion) of funding for hospitals recently announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, is designed to help hospitals weather an expected surge of coronavirus cases when temperatures drop. Typically, hospitals are under the most strain in winter as seasonal flu spreads.
“This winter more than ever, with Covid-19 still circulating, we need to help reduce all avoidable risks,” Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said in a statement. “Vaccinating more people will help reduce flu transmission and stop people becoming ill.”
Free vaccines will be available to:
- People on the government’s list of “shielded” patients and their households
- All school year groups up to year 7
- People aged 50+
- Pregnant women
- People with pre-existing conditions
- Frontline health and social care workers
