Bury residents urged to get Covid jabs as winter approaches

The Covid-19 booster jab is being offered to everyone aged 65 and over, along with care home residents, frontline health and social care staff, those at increased risk because they are pregnant or have a certain underlying health condition, unpaid carers and household contacts of people with a weakened immune system.

GP surgeries are contacting patients, encouraging them to get their jabs, and the number of pharmacies in Bury administering doses has more than doubled to help with capacity.

But with more than three-and-a-years passing since the country was locked down for the first time due to the pandemic and restrictions being legally lifted in February last year, there are concerns some people are not taking Covid as seriously.   

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As winter approaches, Bury's director of public health, Jon Hobday, is urging people who are eligible to have their vaccinations to protect themselves and their families.

He said: “Flu and Covid can lead to very serious illness, especially in people who are elderly and/or have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable.

“This year, the number of local pharmacies offering vaccinations has risen from eight to 19, which will give people more choice in where to go.

"GP practices are also contacting eligible patients directly and encouraging them to come to the surgery for their jabs.

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“Some may think that Covid has gone away, or that they are still fully protected because they have previously been vaccinated. But this is not the case.

"Covid, like the flu, is very much still with us.

“We would urge everyone who is eligible for vaccination against those viruses to come forward and have their jabs, which will help to keep them and their loved ones safer.”

For more information about booking Covid jabs click here.