Two monsters invaded Bolton to remind people to get jabbed up against Covid and flu!

The dangerous duo visited the town centre to make sure that we get vaccinated as we head into winter.

They illustrated the mayhem that both viruses bring, the health threat they pose and the events they can spoil for people.

Lesley Hardman, senior responsible officer for the Covid vaccination programme in Bolton, said:

Don’t be tempted to think that Covid has gone away! It hasn’t and the numbers will go up as we go into the colder months.

Flu is also predicted to be more severe this year. It’s not just a bad cold; if you catch flu you will know about it and it could develop into something more serious.

Getting either virus can make you very ill so you definitely don’t want to come down with either – or both!

While most people will recover from these illnesses without serious problems, Covid and flu can pose huge risks to others, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health issues.

Getting vaccinated will reduce the severity of infection and reduce the chances of spreading the viruses to vulnerable loved ones.

The following people are being offered a free Covid-19 autumn booster vaccine:

• all adults aged 50 years and over
• those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women
• those aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• those aged 16 to 49 years who are carers
• residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
• frontline health and social care workers

People are also reminded that it’s never too late to have any other dose of the vaccine.

Flu vaccines are being offered free to:

• people aged 50 and over
• those aged over six months to 49 with a specified health condition
• some secondary school-aged children
• 2 and 3 year olds
• pregnant women
• primary school-aged children
• those in care homes
• frontline health care workers
• frontline social care staff who do not have access to occupational health schemes
• household contacts of people with a weakened immune system

Lynn Donkin, interim director of public health, Bolton Council, said:

I would urge people to take up the offer of a free flu vaccine ahead of what could be a difficult winter with respiratory viruses circulating widely.

While we are all aware of the dangers of Covid-19, it’s important to remember that flu can also be serious. The strain of flu that we expect to be circulating this winter can cause particularly severe illness, so getting the flu jab is a sensible thing to do to protect yourself and those around you, especially people who are elderly or may be vulnerable because of other conditions.

Bolton has a range of walk-in Covid vaccination clinics.

Visit https://bit.ly/BoltonVaxClinics for details.

You can also book online at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/.

Flu vaccinations will be given at GP surgeries and other venues.

People who do not qualify for a free flu jab can still get vaccinated at their local pharmacy for around £10 to £15.