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NHS urges 250,000 vulnerable people to get flu jab

Aimee Dexter
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System A man is sat on the left with his arm on the table. He is wearing a red polo shirt and someone is putting a vaccine in his upper arm. A person is on the right who is giving the vaccine, and is wearing a blue jumper.Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System
People who are vulnerable in Cambridgeshire are being encouraged to get the flu vaccination

An NHS trust is encouraging 250,000 vulnerable people to get their flu vaccine.

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System urged people clinically at-risk to get the vaccination if they had not already.

People who are eligible for the vaccine can access them through GP practices, pharmacies and walk-in clinics.

Cali Makewell, its vaccination service lead, said: "Getting vaccinated only takes a few minutes and gives you months of protection against flu."

The trust said the vaccine takes two weeks to become fully effective and advised people to get it now before the festive season.

It said the following people were eligible for the free jab:

  • Anyone aged 65 or over
  • If you have certain long-term health conditions
  • If you are pregnant
  • Anyone who lives in a care home
  • You are the main carer for an older or disabled person, receive carer's allowance, or live with someone with a weakened immune system
  • All children aged two to three years, school-aged children (reception to year 11) and children with certain long-term health conditions

About 78% of pupils from Reception to Year 11 were part of the flu vaccination programme in Cambridgeshire between October 2024 and January.

In Peterborough, 58% of school children were vaccinated.

Ms Makewell said: "Over the Christmas break as we get together with friends and family indoors, viruses like flu can spread more easily."

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