The NHS is urging people to grab a ‘Jabuary’ boost to protect themselves from COVID-19 and flu amid continuing high infection rates and hospital admissions.

Hundreds of sites across the region, including general practices, pharmacies and hospital hubs, are continuing to offer first, second and seasonal booster doses of the Covid vaccine throughout January.

Free NHS flu vaccines are also still available at GP practices and pharmacies, and school vaccination teams are visiting secondary schools this month to give the vaccine – which is generally given as a nasal spray to children – to students in years 7 to 9.

Although many have come forward for their Covid booster and flu jab, there are still a number of eligible people who have not taken up their winter vaccinations, placing themselves at an increased risk of serious illness.

People can book a Covid vaccine online or find a convenient walk-in clinic at: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.

It’s possible to book a flu vaccine at some pharmacies online here. To find a wider list of pharmacies offering flu vaccination that you can contact directly in order to book, click here.

Those eligible for the Covid booster and flu vaccines are:

• People aged 50 and over
• Those aged between six months and 49 years with a specified health condition
• Pregnant women
• Those in care homes
• People who are carers, as set out in the Green Book
• Frontline healthcare workers
• Frontline social care staff who do not have access to occupational health schemes
• Household contacts of people with weakened immune systems.

In addition, the free flu vaccine is offered to all two and three-year-olds, all primary school aged children and secondary school-aged children in years 7-9.