More ‘at risk’ groups to receive free flu vaccine on NHS this winter, No 10 says
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Your support makes all the difference.More people will receive a flu vaccine free on the NHS this winter, No 10 has said.
Older people, nursery school children and those suffering from conditions such as asthma are already able to get the jab free of charge.
But Downing Street said eligibility will be expanded as ministers try to protect the NHS amid warnings of a potential second wave of Covid-19 later this year.
The government has already ordered extra stockpiles of the vaccine.
But it is not clear who will be included in the new enlarged system.
There have been calls for all over 50s to get a free flu jab from the doctors groups like the Royal College of Physicians as well as from the Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Earlier this year Sage, the scientific group advising the government, recommended everyone receive a free injection, but it is thought that was considered too difficult.
Even vaccinating all over 50s in the UK would require an estimated extra 10 million doses.
The prime minister's official spokesman said that it was “particularly important” this year that as many people as possible in at risk groups were protected from the flu, which can kill.
"The Government has been working to secure a significant additional supply of vaccines,” he said.
"We will use these vaccines to increase uptake in existing at-risk groups as a priority.”
But he went on: “We also intend to expand the groups of people that are eligible and we will be setting out more details shortly."
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