First Minister Receives Flu Vaccine in Edinburgh
The flu vaccine is deemed “crucial” for protecting the NHS during the winter, according to John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland. He received his flu jab at NHS Lothian’s centre in Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh, on Thursday.
Eligibility for the Flu Vaccine
- People aged 65 and older
- Pregnant women
- Those with certain health conditions
- Unpaid carers
- Health and social care staff
Mr Swinney qualifies for the vaccine as an unpaid carer for a family member.
Impact of Last Year’s Flu Season
During the previous flu season, around 6,500 people required hospital treatment in Scotland, putting pressure on the NHS.
Current Flu Vaccine Progress and Hospital Admissions
Nearly one million flu vaccines have been given so far, but hospital admissions due to flu have slightly increased.
“There’s 980,000 vaccines have been deployed already, and we are seeing, despite all of that, a slight increase in the level of admissions to hospital as a consequence of flu.”
He added the situation is closely monitored by the health and social care system, emphasizing the importance of vaccination.
“A crucial component of this is making sure that we have adequate levels of vaccination to members of the public and our health and social care system are protected.”
Summary: John Swinney highlights the vital role of flu vaccinations in safeguarding the NHS this winter amid a small rise in hospital flu cases despite widespread immunization efforts.