In-Pharmacy Flu Vaccination Programme: Fill & Download for Free

I posted this on my Facebook the other day, because I was proud that I got my flu vaccine. I wanted to do my part for society.The medical staff will think you’re an anti-vaxxer, or an idiot, or both. Imagine you got the flu, or Covid because someone else said “Nah, don’t need a vaccine, because I haven’t got any symptoms”, and you become seriously ill as a result? What happens if you passed the flu on a vulnerable loved one, and they died because of your actions?If you and other people get vaccinated, it prevents you from getting symptoms and becoming ill, and even dying.In the UK, the government has ordered 30m flu vaccine doses, for this year - double its usual amount. It’s also reduced the age requirement to get a free flu jab. It’s now embarking on a mass vaccination on school children to prevent the flu spreading. In fact, the pharmacies are having to reduce their vaccinations to make sure the vulnerable get vaccinated first, due to demand out stripping supply. I had to wait about a week to get my flu vaccine for 2020, as the local pharmacies had all sold out.After the “due in date”, I was checking most days with my local Asda’s pharmacy, to see if they had their vaccines in stock, and soon as they said they had some in stock, I went immediately to get my vaccination. It only cost me £8 - no brainer, it’s a bargain!The UK wouldn’t be doing this if they didn’t think there was a need. The vast majority of the public are in agreement with the government, over this course of action (a rarity in politics)! I have some links below to read, and a statement about the flu vaccine from the UK gov.From the UK government website about the flu vaccine:[1]Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty said:Flu can have serious consequences and vulnerable people can die of it. Having the vaccine protects you, and helps reduce transmission to others.This winter more than ever, with COVID-19 still circulating, we need to help reduce all avoidable risks. Vaccinating more people will help reduce flu transmission and stop people becoming ill.Seasonal flu is an illness that can be spread by children among themselves and to adults. Last year, the flu programme was expanded to include all primary school aged children for the first time, and this year teams will be visiting secondary schools to vaccinate children in year 7. This will help to contain the spread of this year’s seasonal flu and not only protect children but also vulnerable adults they may be in contact with.Dr Vanessa Saliba, Head of Flu at PHE said:The flu vaccine is the best defence we have against what can be a serious and even deadly illness.This winter, more people than ever will be offered a free flu vaccine. We are urging anyone who is eligible to take up the offer of vaccination. By getting the jab, you can help protect yourself, your family and the NHS – it will help save lives.Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and NHS medical director for primary care, said:Getting a free NHS flu vaccination is a quick and simple way that people can help to save lives and reduce pressure on our hardworking frontline staff this winter.GPs, nurses, community pharmacists and others will be going to great lengths this year to give this vital protection to millions more people in a safe and convenient way, so when the time comes I would urge everyone invited for a flu vaccination to get it as soon as possible.Some links for you to read:Record numbers offered flu vaccine as those with flu and COVID-19 more likely to diePharmacies in England pause online flu jab bookings as demand soarsFlu vaccine does not increase your risk of coronavirus, study confirmsFootnotes[1] Record numbers offered flu vaccine as those with flu and COVID-19 more likely to die

In the UK 30 million flu vaccinations will be carried out in about four months.[1]This is a major logistical marvel as it is done at ordinary doctors surgeries and pharmacies - all maintaining covid safety.Vaccinating almost all the population will require about 120 million jabs - four times the number of flu jabs. But they are talking about training many more people to administer the jabs, and the military are likely to be involved in distribution. So, assuming no problems with vaccine supplies, I reckon they could get it done in 12 months.Footnotes[1] Millions of extra flu jabs available to support largest UK vaccination programme

Influenza vaccinations are a routine matter, with programmes of vaccinations for vulnerable patients - particularly elders, but also those who may be more are risk because of pre-existing medical conditions - ongoing practically everywhere and with considerable sucess in take-up terms.It's not compulsory, nor is it a ‘high pressure sale’, just a gentle nudge to remind people - all people - that the ‘flu season is upon us and that jabs are available at GP's surgeries and pharmacies, to whoever is interested.Common sense tells me no one wants two different immune-response provoking injections too close together, and that two to three weeks are required for ‘flu jabs to take effect, so the scenarios whereby pressure is either applied to receive both in one session, or COVID19 vaccinations denied are equally unlikely.(Or to put it another way, it sounds like typical and ill-founded rumour-mongering of third parties, utterly disinterested in UK health policy and practice, or the welfare of British people, but instead using a semi-plausible lie in a war of words about ‘what is going on abroad’ purely - or not - in order to further a malign sectarian political agenda at home.)So no, to my knowledge there is no such pre-requirement, even if it makes sense to accept both.But as ready mentioned, at a suitable interval, as some illness is avoidable, despite a lot of nonsense being bandied about to the effect ‘natural immunity’ takes care of everything* without mentioning the significant and avoidable casualties incurred by an extremist take on ‘laissez faire’ in the public health context, in tbe midst of a global pandemic.* My father, who started smoking when doctors were still of the opinion smoking improved lung function by promoting phelgm to ‘clear the lungs’, and who received cigarettes with his rations as a soldier serving in wartime, suffered from acute respiratory problems for most of my adult life, until his death.In the context of smog, caused largely by solid fuel fires, chronic obstructive airways disorder and, I believe, smoking-related lymphoma, not being offered ‘flu vaccines equate to a death sentence, with or without COVID19, SARS, or similar pandemics.