Welwyn Hatfield’s MP Grant Shapps visited Johns and Kelynack Pharmacy in Welwyn Garden City to get his flu jab.
As part of the NHS Flu Vaccination Service, all adults aged 65 and over, as well as those aged 18 and over and in clinical risk groups, can receive a free flu jab from the NHS at community pharmacies across Hertfordshire. People in at-risk groups include pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions including asthma and diabetes. Pharmacists will be administering the same flu jab as those offered by GPs, and patients’ GP practices will be notified that they have been vaccinated.
Community pharmacy teams across the county are hoping for another record-breaking year. Last year, nearly 25,000 people in Hertfordshire received a flu vaccination in a community pharmacy.
Grant Shapps said: “This is an excellent service and so accessible, with no appointments required. It only takes a few minutes and many patients are loyal to their pharmacy, so everyone knows each other quite well, making it an easy experience. The scheme will help protect people from health complications through the winter months by making sure they have their flu jab. I encourage all eligible Welwyn Hatfield residents to get their flu jab as winter approaches.”
Sarah Gaynor, local community pharmacist at Johns and Kelynack, said: “As a community pharmacist, I am really excited about this year’s Flu Vaccination Service. I offer vaccinations and other public health services and my patients are extremely positive about these. There is so much that community pharmacists and their teams can do to help people with their medicines and their health. It was great to welcome Grant Shapps MP to the pharmacy to show how quick and easy it is to get the jab.”
