Eligibility for free flu vaccination is being extended to try to avoid a potentially catastrophic scenario of a second spike in covid-19 infections coinciding with a bad winter flu season.

800,000 social care workers providing direct care, people who live with others who are shielding and those over the age of 55 who haven’t previously been eligible will now be offered a flu jab.

This adds to existing eligible groups: those aged 65 and over, people with an underlying health condition that increases their risk, pregnant women, healthcare workers, young and unpaid carers, children aged between two and five years old, and primary schoolchildren.

Scotland’s NHS boards will begin the vaccination programme in October, starting with the highest risk groups. A second phase, starting in December, will seek to reach the people age 55 to 64 who are being added to the list for the first time.

Karen Hedge, National Director at Scottish Care is welcoming the priority now being given to those working on the front line of care:

“Scottish Care welcomes the announcement that social care workers will be able to access free flu jabs.

“This is something we have been in dialogue with the Scottish government about for some time, and we consider this move to be a real step forward in recognising the critical role of skilled and valuable care staff, protecting both them and also those they support.”

Scotland’s Interim Chief Medical Officer, Gregor Smith, says the ambition is for the vaccine not just to be offered to new people but also for more of those who are already eligible to take it up.

“Vaccination is one of the strongest defences that we have against infectious diseases and, this year more than ever, I’m asking you please to take up the offer of receiving your flu vaccination if you are eligible.”

“If you want to check whether you are eligible for the vaccine, please visit the NHS Inform website and if you receive a letter inviting you to get a vaccine, please follow the instructions contained in it.

The government says it would like to extend vaccination further to those aged over 50 if there is sufficient vaccine, admitting that global supplies will be under pressure as other countries seek to protect their populations.

NHS staff are already offered free flu vaccines – though in some years uptake has been lower than public health teams have wanted.

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