MILLIONS more Brits are set to get free flu jabs this autumn, the Government has announced.
The free vaccine programme might be expanded to include all secondary school children up to Year 11 in a bid to tackle a possible wave of infections.
This would include all children between the age of 11 -16.
Until now, only clinically vulnerable secondary school children were offered the jab.
However last year, secondary school children were offered the vaccine as a 'temporary measure' when experts feared a post-Covid lockdown flu surge was looming.
Flu vaccines will be available from September for children aged two and three on August 31, all primary school children, people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, unpaid carers, and frontline health and adult social care staff.
READ MORE ON FLU
Bird flu alert as two cases detected in poultry workers in England
Urgent warning to anyone who’s had flu over risk of silent killer complication
Vulnerable people and their close contacts can also get the jab.
The enlarged drive will build on last year's expanded flu programme, which saw a record 20 million jabs being administered- out of the 33 million who were offered the jabs.
It comes as cases of flu is Australia – which typically serves as a predictor for the northern hemisphere – are soaring.
New figures suggest infections are soaring at rate 100 times higher than it was last year.
Most read in Health
The 3 surprising reasons your bum is itchy – and when you must see a doctor
All about the condition Naga Munchetty has
The 17 signs you're a functioning alcoholic…from risk-taking to hiding drinks
My throat cancer was caused by oral sex – others must know the dangers
Last winter, the NHS saw the worst winter flu outbreak in a decade.
The pandemic lockdown is being blamed for the outbreak because people were shuttered away — creating a lower immunity to infections.
The flu crisis triggered a shortage of popular remedies Night Nurse and Lemsip.
Source: Read Full Article
Doctors shocked to discover woman's excruciating headache triggered by a SHOWER | The Sun
The ten most expensive royal weddings of all time
‘You can’t cut back on everything’: Home owners almost at breaking point
It’s the season of the Hillsong documentary, which is a bad sign for Hillsong
Drew Barrymore clarifies controversial mom comments: I never said ‘I wish my mother was dead’
American woman shares things that will make French people 'hate' you
Britain's luckiest city for hitting the Lotto jackpot revealed with more than 200 winners | The Sun
Don Lemon to host 7th annual Native Son Awards