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Somerset Health and Wellbeing Advisory Network
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Over 50? Book your Free Flu and Covid Vaccinations Today
People aged 50 and over are now able to book their autumn booster and flu vaccines, as the NHS Covid-19 and flu programmes continue to protect the country ahead of winter.
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Chief Medical Advisor at the UK Health Security Agency Dr Susan Hopkins said: “The double threat of widely circulating flu and Covid-19 this year is a real concern, so it’s crucial that you take up the free flu vaccine as soon as possible if you are offered it. It will help protect you from severe flu this winter, and even save your life.
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“All those over 50 are now eligible for the jab, many of which will have low natural immunity due to Covid-19 restrictions over the last two years”.
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How to book your NHS Covid-19 Autumn Booster:
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Appointments are available to people aged 50 and over, pregnant women, clinically vulnerable / immunosuppressed individuals, health and social care workers and paid and unpaid carers. Anyone who falls into these groups are able to book now online or by calling 119. Calls to 119 are free from mobiles and landlines. 119 provides support in 200 languages.
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Please look out for older relatives, friends and neighbours who may need help and support to book their vaccination appointments.
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Reminder for People Working or Living with Individuals on the Learning Disability (LD) Register
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All those working or living with individuals who are listed on the LD register, as well as frontline health and social care workers and paid and unpaid carers have a right to access the Covid-19 Autumn booster vaccination as a priority group.
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Everyone on the doctors learning disability register will be invited to have their coronavirus vaccination if they haven’t already had it. NHS England » Improving health
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Appointments can be made by calling 119 or booking online through the National Booking Service. The vaccine is free to those eligible and it’s easy to book by selecting “Yes, I am a frontline social care worker”. Those eligible just need to self-declare when booking their appointment and will not be required to bring along evidence to the appointment.
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All eligible people are strongly encouraged to accept the vaccination that is offered as soon as they are able – it is important to be up to date with the booster and build up protection against severe illness before the winter.
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People are also encouraged to get their flu jab and in some cases these may be offered at the same time as the covid vaccination.
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During the October half-term (from 24th October) there will be dedicated Covid-19 children’s vaccination clinics held across Somerset. These are by appointment only, but plenty of appointments are currently available. 1st and 2nd Covid-19 vaccinations are available for all children aged 5-17.
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Booking an NHS Free Flu Vaccination
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Those who are eligible for the NHS free flu jab can be vaccinated via their Community Pharmacy or GP Surgery.
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Those that are eligible may have received a letter from their GP about getting the flu jab and should follow the instructions outlined on that letter.
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If an individual has not yet heard from their GP surgery regarding the flu jab and they are eligible for a free flu jab, then please help them to book at a local pharmacy. You can find a local pharmacy and their contact details using the NHS website Find a pharmacy that offers the NHS flu vaccine - NHS - NHS (www.nhs.uk) and give them a call to find out how to get the vaccine.
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For more information, please share all these links with your networks:
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Public Health Film
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Clinton Rogers explores the reasons why the flu jab is so important this winter. He talks to Johanna, a parent-carer who gets the flu jab to protect her daughter and hears from Dr Bernie Marsden, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Somerset, about the dangers of flu and the protection the flu jab offers.
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Winter Readiness Webinar
SCC are holding an online ‘Winter Readiness’ webinar for health and care professionals, paid and unpaid carers and volunteers working with people and communities who may be more vulnerable this winter. The event will give an overview of who is more vulnerable in winter and how to signpost to the range of support available in Somerset, with a view to helping communities stay well in the context of rising costs this winter.
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Support your local communities to stay well and cope with rising living costs this winter. This online event on Thursday 10 November between 11am and 12.30pm will give you an overview of who is more vulnerable in winter and how to signpost to the range of support available in Somerset.
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👉 Keeping warm – places and help available to keep warm this winter
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👉 Keeping well – immunisations and emotional wellbeing and support
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👉 Financial wellness – how to manage finances when costs are rising
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👉 Essentials – support with food and other essentials
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👉 Planning for cold and extreme weather
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Please share this information widely with your networks.
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Somerset Carers Roadshow
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The Somerset Carers team will be out and about across Somerset's supermarkets chatting to Carers about the support and advice available to them and raising awareness of the Carers service.
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We want to hear from you
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Your feedback is valuable to us and we'd like to receive more from you and your communities. Information on issues you are spotting locally will help us to reduce barriers to accessing healthcare. Use the button below to give us your details and we'll give you a call back.
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Local Helplines
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Mendip District Council call 0300 303 8588
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Sedgemoor District Council call 0300 303 7800
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South Somerset District Council call 01935 462462
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Somerset West and Taunton Council call 0300 304 8000
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Somerset County Council call 0300 123 22224
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Resources and Further Information:
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You have received this Health and Wellbeing newsletter from Somerset County Council as you are currently part of the Health and Wellbeing Advisory Network. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, click here to unsubscribe
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