Helping residents to get vaccinated and prepared for winter, NHS Mid and South Essex is bringing a community vaccination bus to Morrisons, Southend-on-Sea on Wednesday 16 October from 9am to 5pm.
Getting vaccinated against winter illnesses is one of the most important things that residents can do to protect their health. Last winter, almost 60% of eligible people in mid and south Essex received their flu vaccination (over 337,000 residents). This year, the community vaccination bus is going on a roadshow to make sure even more people are supported to get the flu vaccination to protect themselves and their loved ones.
The bus will offer advice about winter vaccinations, including the flu, COVID-19, and new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines. Healthcare professionals will be onboard to vaccinate those eligible or signpost people to their local GP surgery. Adults over 40 years old can also get free blood pressure checks and gain practical health advice.
Chelle, 55, Thurrock, is backing the campaign. She says: “When I was younger, I never used to bother with the flu vaccination, and I very rarely caught a cold, let alone the flu. Having flu twice in one winter convinced me to accept every winter vaccination on offer, including COVID-19, and to date this has paid off.”
As temperatures start to dip, a rise in illnesses such as flu, COVID-19, respiratory infections, and other conditions impact people’s health and wellbeing. These illnesses place additional strain on the local NHS.
Mary Oaiya is a Clinical Pharmacist working for NHS Mid and South Essex, based in Essex. She is urging people to get vaccinated: “Getting your winter vaccinations is so important to help yourself and your loved ones stay fit and healthy during the cold months ahead.
“This year, we’re reaching out into the heart of our communities with our vaccination bus to help people make an informed choice and get vaccinated. Protecting yourself and your family and friends from serious illnesses such as influenza is very important.”
The vaccination bus will also be travelling to:
- Tesco Extra, Mayflower Retail Park, Basildon, on Tuesday 15 October from 9am-5pm
- Morrisons, Northwick Road, Canvey Island on Friday 18 October from 9am-5pm
To find out more about getting vaccinated this winter, visit NHS Mid and South Essex’s Winter Health Hub, which has a dedicated Vaccinations section with information on where local people can get the flu, COVID-19, and new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccinations.
Residents can also sign up to receive free emails from local healthcare specialists this winter. These emails will provide advice on vaccinations, self-care practices, mental health, falls prevention, respiratory conditions, and how to get the right care from local services. You can also sign up for the monthly Livewell Southend newsletter by visiting Southend-on-Sea City Council email updates, inputting your email address and selecting "Livewell What's New?".