THE first mass flu-vaccination site in Worcester is due to open.
Following on from the success of the covid vaccination sites at the Three Counties Showground and St Peter's Baptist Church, GPs in the city have partnered with Worcester Racecourse to develop a similar site for the flu jab.
Patients will receive a text message from their GP inviting them to book their jab at the site, which is modelled on the existing coronavirus vaccination centres.
Patients eligible for a free flu vaccination through the NHS include those aged 50 or over (or those turning 50 before March 2022), those with certain health conditions, who are pregnant or in long-stay residential care.
Also eligible are people who receive a carer’s allowance or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk, live with someone who is more likely to get infections, or are frontline health and social care workers.
Dr Nikki Burger, senior GP partner at St Johns House Medical Centre and clinical director at Worcester City PCN said: "It’s easy to underestimate flu—but this virus kills tens of thousands of people in the UK every year.
"We want to make sure that the people of Worcester have the best possible opportunity to protect themselves against this virus as well as Covid."
Nicky Redshaw, operations manager at Worcester City PCN, said: “Our practices are continuing to maintain social distancing and infection control measures to protect their most vulnerable patients—and this naturally places some limitations on the number of patients we’re able to safely see face-to-face.
“That’s why programmes like this one are important—because by combining resources and working together to see all patients requiring flu jabs from one central site, we’re able to allow more routine and urgent appointments to take place face-to-face."
Rebecca Davies, executive director of Worcester Racecourse, added: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Worcester City Primary Care Network to provide the City’s first flu vaccination centre at Worcester Racecourse.
"We look forward to welcoming members of the public over the coming months for their free flu vaccination and are proud to be playing a part in keeping Worcester healthy over the Winter."
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