Stay well this winter

We’re here to help you stay well this winter

Winter conditions can be bad for our health, aggravating any existing health problems, increasing the risk of a fall, and making us more vulnerable to respiratory winter illnesses. People aged 65 or older, and people with long term conditions such as heart or kidney disease, COPD (including emphysema and chronic bronchitis), asthma or diabetes are at higher risk. Being cold can also cause your blood pressure to rise, potentially increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks.  But there are lots of things you can do to stay well this winter.

Stay strong with winter vaccines

Getting vaccinated helps keep you and your loved ones safe by reducing your risk of serious illness, hospitalisation and passing an illness on to others. Every year thousands of older adults, people with certain health conditions and children under 5 need hospital care for flu, COVID-19, RSV and other preventable illnesses. Sadly every winter thousands of people die. The risk from these viruses is greater during winter when they circulate most as people spend more time indoors.

Eastham Group Practice is offering flu and COVID-19 vaccines for free to those most at risk of getting seriously ill. As these viruses change and protection can decrease over time it’s important to come forward every year if you are eligible to top up your protection even if you have had previous flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Who is eligible for which vaccines?

Anyone 65 and over, pregnant women and residents in care homes for older adults are eligible for both the COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. Those aged 6 months and over with certain long term health conditions may be eligible for one or both of these vaccines depending on their condition.  The flu vaccine is available free for carers of an older or disabled person, people that receive a carer’s allowance and anyone living with someone with a weakened immune system. It is also offered to children aged 2-3 (on 31 August) through their GP practice and for school aged children from reception to year 11 through their school aged immunisation service (usually at school). School aged children can also get the flu vaccine at their GP practice if they have a long term health condition: www.nhs.uk/child-flu

Whilst flu and COVID-19 vaccines are needed every year, there are some vaccines that you only need to get once to help keep you protected. If you’re aged 65 or over, or have certain health conditions, you are eligible for a one-off pneumococcal vaccine, which will help protect you from a major cause of pneumonia. This can be given at the same time as the flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

If you are aged 70-79 or turned 65 on or after 1st September 2023, you can also get your shingles vaccine to reduce your chance of getting the disease, or experiencing complications, by contacting your GP practice.
Those who turned 75 on or after 1 September 2024 and those already aged 75 to 79 will also now be able to get the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.

The RSV vaccine should ideally be given separately to the other vaccines above. RSV can be serious for older adults as it affects the airways and lungs and can lead to pneumonia and every year, thousands of older people are hospitalised. Your GP practice will contact you to offer an appointment. A range of vaccinations including the RSV vaccine and whooping cough (pertussis) will also be offered if you are pregnant to protect you and your baby from serious illness.  More information is available here:www.nhs.uk/pregnancyvaccinations Find out more about NHS vaccinations at: www.nhs.uk/vaccinations

How to avoid passing on flu and COVID-19 to others
To avoid passing on viruses that spread by sneezing, coughing and breathing: