DEVON County Council is encouraging people to get their flu vaccination, which can be booked at the GP practice or a local pharmacy offering the service.

The flu vaccine?is safe and effective and is offered free on the NHS to adults

who:

• are 50 and over (including those who will be 50 by March 31, 2022)

• have certain health conditions

• are pregnant

• are in long-stay residential care

• receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick

• live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)

• frontline health or social care workers

Eligible children being offered the vaccine this year, are:

• all children aged two or three years old on August 31, 2021

• all primary school-aged children

• all year seven to year 11 secondary school-aged children

• children with a health condition that puts them at greater risk from flu

Children aged two and three years will be given the vaccination at their general practice usually by the practice nurse.

School-aged children and young people will be offered the flu vaccine in school.

For most children, the vaccine will be given as a spray in each nostril. This is a very quick and painless procedure.

If you are eligible you can have a free NHS flu vaccine at your GP surgery, a pharmacy offering the service, your midwifery service if you’re pregnant, or at a hospital appointment.

If you do not have your flu vaccine at your GP surgery, you do not have to tell the surgery. This will be done for you.

If you are not eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine, you can still pay for one privately through your local pharmacy.