The flu vaccination programme in the UK will be expanded to help prepare the NHS for the winter months and ongoing pressures of Covid-19.
Winter months are already a stressful time on the NHS with flu alone being one of the major killers during this season. The government have recently announced that an extra £3 billion pounds will be funded into the NHS in England to help prepare for the winter months and the possible second spike of Covid-19.
The extra £3 billion pounds of funding from the UK government will allow the upkeep of hospital beds in the Nightingale Hospital up until the end of March 2021.
There are a select few people who are eligible for the vaccination:
- People over the age of 65
- Pregnant women
- Primary school children
- Those who suffer with medical conditions
Boris Johnson also announced during the Downing Street press conference an increase in Covid testing capacity to half a million daily.
Meanwhile, Sara Gorton, head of health at the union Unison has said that money needs to go towards giving staff and healthcare workers a payrise. Sara said an increase in pay for health and care workers would “prove popular with the public” and support the NHS to retain and recruit staff.
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