Deck the halls and get ready to be festive by having your Covid-19 and flu vaccines this festive season

Health leaders in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) are reminding eligible local people to have all their NHS recommended winter vaccinations to help prevent the spread of viruses, in our communities ahead of the festive season, including Covid-19, flu, and RSV.

To help reinforce the important role of vaccinations in healthcare, the local NHS is today (Tuesday 10 December), launching, the ‘Get ready to be festive’ countdown where a new, fact about vaccines will be shared daily until Christmas Day on our social media accounts.

To date, over 485,948 vaccines have been administered to eligible people in LLR since September 2024. As the festive season gets underway, the best way to stay merry and bright is by making vaccinations an important part of your festive preparations especially if you’ve yet to get protected.

Dr Virginia Ashman, clinical lead for the vaccination programme in LLR said: “Vaccines have been around for a very long time, they do a great job at helping to prevent the spread of viruses and diseases such as Covid-19, flu, and RSV. We want to reassure our local communities that vaccines are safe and during the colder winter months when we see a sharp increase in cases of preventable illnesses, getting vaccinated will help to prevent serious illness and requiring hospital treatment.”

When we spend more time indoors with more people at festive parties and events, it becomes much easier to catch and spread the viruses to other people. Those that are pregnant, aged 65 or over, or have a weakened immune system, maybe due to an existing health condition or because of medical treatment, or those with a long-term health condition, are all at risk from becoming seriously unwell from the effects of the viruses.

Dr Ashman continues, “The best gift you can give to help prevent the spread of the viruses is to get vaccinated if you’re eligible. It will significantly reduce the risk of passing the viruses on to those that are most at-risk.”

In LLR there are a variety of ways in which people can get vaccinated ahead of the festive period, including walk-in clinics, that people can go to without an appointment, or appointments can be booked at community pharmacy and GP practice clinics. There are also walk-in antenatal vaccination clinics for pregnant women that are located across the city and county (Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm) and specialist clinics that are dedicated to vaccinating eligible children ranging from five to 18 years of age and those with learning disabilities that require a more calming environment.

Getting vaccinated will also help to ease the pressure on NHS services during an already busy time of year. If you are unsure if you, your child, or anyone in your home is eligible or you’d like more information about any of the routine NHS recommended vaccines this winter you can speak to your GP practice, visit a walk-in clinic, local pharmacy or by checking on our website. There are also porcine (gelatine) free vaccines available for anyone that doesn’t consume pork products.

Dr Ashman concludes, “Vaccines can require up to 14 days to become fully effective once administered, we strongly urge all eligible people to get ready to be festive by getting vaccinated as soon as possible so that you are fully protected in time for the festive period. You will also help to reduce any chance of passing infection on to your family and friends.”

For more information about all available vaccinations including where and how to get vaccinated across LLR visit the LLR ICB vaccination hub here: www.leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/vaccinations/.