WINTER is upon us and a season of bugs unfortunately awaits.
But there are a number of things we can do to limit our risk, and the risk to others, of catching the germs.
Vaccines are the most important way to protect yourself and those you love.
Flu shots are available now and everyone able to should have had their two Covid jabs.
But in addition to this, people who are six months on from their last dose of coronavirus vaccine can have a booster.
This is vital to get, as if you are months on from being double jabbed, your protection will be waning.
And as cases are still high and winter means more chances for the bug to spread, you need to make sure you are as shielded as possible from getting seriously ill.
This is to help you, and keep the burden on the NHS down.
Plus, although it doesn’t remove all the risk, if you are as protected as possible you have less chance of passing the virus onto others too.
Where can I get my Covid booster?
You can easily get your top up.
If you are eligible your doctor and/or the NHS will alert you to book in – but you can also do the maths yourself and head to the booking site.
You can have your shot done at your GP or a local vaccine centre.
There are also walk-in centres which now allow you to get a booster – as long as you are eligible – without an appointment.
Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and deputy lead for the NHS covid-19 vaccination programme said: “NHS staff are making it as easy as possible for people to get their top-up vaccination, and from today people can now go online, find their nearest site and go and get their booster without delay.
“The booster is not just a nice to have – it is really important protection ahead of what we know will be a challenging winter. So if you are eligible, please do check the site finder and go get your jab.”
How to book in?
If you want to book in for a slot you need to go to the dedicated NHS booking site.
When you book your jab, you’ll only need to select a time and day for one slot – unlike booking the first and second dose when you were asked to book them both at once.
If you have recently had coronavirus then you should wait four weeks before booking your appointment.
To book your appointment you need to click the green “book now” button.
You’ll then be asked if you know your NHS number or not.
If you have your NHS number it will make it a little bit faster to book, if not you then have to fill out all of your personal details.
