Add a winter vaccine to your Diwali checklist, families urged

Families in Birmingham preparing for Diwali are being urged to add one more thing to their festive checklist: getting their flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines if they are eligible.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is calling on members of the Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities who qualify for the vaccines to come forward now, so they are protected during the celebrations and throughout the winter.

Get protected early

The vaccines can take several days to give maximum protection, so the agency says getting vaccinated as soon as possible will reduce the risk of severe illness ahead of Diwali and into the winter.

Levels of the three main winter viruses, flu, COVID-19 and RSV, are currently low, but flu usually starts to increase during November. As the weather turns colder, people spend more time indoors with family and friends, in rooms with less ventilation, which makes it easier for these viruses to spread.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said: "The Diwali season is a cherished time when families and friends come together to celebrate and exchange greetings. However, it also coincides with the start of winter when flu and other respiratory viruses are often circulating.

"We strongly encourage members of the Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities to prioritise their health by getting vaccinated if eligible, helping them to stay winter-proof."

Who can get a vaccine

People are eligible for these vaccines because they are at greater risk of serious illness. The COVID-19 vaccine is free for people aged 75 and over, people who are immunosuppressed and residents of care homes for older adults. People aged 75 and over and pregnant women can also have an RSV vaccine, which for pregnant women passes protection on to their newborn baby.

Don't forget the children

Children are offered a free flu vaccine as a quick, painless nasal spray. Pupils from Reception to Year 11 are offered it at school, and parents are asked to make sure consent forms are completed. Two and three-year-olds can be booked in at their GP practice, and this year children can also get the nasal spray at participating pharmacies.

Children who cannot have the nasal spray for medical or faith reasons can ask for an injected flu vaccine instead.

"Each winter, thousands of children require treatment in hospital for flu or its complications. Many of these episodes can be prevented by a simple vaccine," Dr Amirthalingam said.

How to book

Appointments and walk-in sessions are available at pharmacies, GP practices and community clinics. You can book through the NHS App, your GP practice, the NHS website or by calling 119, and check whether you are eligible the same way.