The flu vaccine is available free to people with certain long term health conditions, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, emphysema, diabetes, heart, kidney or liver disease, or people who have suffered a stroke.
The free flu jab is also available free to pregnant women, carers, the over 65s, care staff and people in long-stay residential care homes through GPs or pharmacists.
In addition, children aged 2 and 3, primary aged pupils from Reception through to Year 6 and those aged 11 and over with some long term health conditions are offered a free vaccination, given via a quick and painless nasal spray.
People who are not eligible for the free vaccination can still get vaccinated at many local pharmacies for a small charge. For more information, please visit Flu Vaccines.
John Denley, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “Several million people get flu each winter and, while for most of us it is just extremely unpleasant, for those with long term health conditions it can prove incredibly dangerous – with many ending up needing hospital treatment.
“With flu season now well underway, it is vitally important that anyone who is deemed to be at risk takes this opportunity and gets their free vaccination as soon as possible before flu strikes.
“Even if you’ve had the flu vaccination before, it’s important to get it again because the type of virus in circulation changes every year, so the vaccine changes too."
Nurses from Vaccination UK are continuing to visit local schools to give children their free nasal spray. Last week they have been to Northwood Park, Springdale, Elston Hall, Palmers Cross, Rakegate, Graiseley, Nishkam and Woodfield primary schools.
This week they are due to visit SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary Academy and Westacre Infant School today (Monday 9 December), Bantock Primary School and Spring Vale Primary School tomorrow (Tuesday 10 December), The Royal Wolverhampton on Wednesday 11 December, Grove Primary School on Thursday 12 December and St Michaels Catholic Primary Academy and Warstones Primary School on Friday 13 December.
Parents can see the full vaccination schedule, and read more about the vaccine at Flu Vaccines. Any child or young person at any school which has already been visited by the Flu Fighters nurses and who has missed their vaccination can get it either by contacting their GP or at a special catch up clinic at Phoenix Centre, Parkfield Road, WV4 6ED on Saturday 14 December from 9am to 1pm.
