- Many have chosen to receive flu and Covid vaccines at the same time.
Millions of people will be encouraged to book flu jabs online from Monday in a bid to ease pressure on the NHS this winter.
NHS bosses brought forward the vaccination program following the emergence of the new Covid variant last month.
Figures show 3.7 million people have received the flu vaccine since the campaign began on 9/11, with many choosing to “do double” and receive flu and Covid vaccines at the same time .
During the same period, 2.4 million Covid jabs were administered. Last winter, NHS staff treated a significant number of patients in hospital with respiratory illnesses.
The NHS will urge millions of people to book their flu jab online from Monday to ease pressure on the health service over the winter.
About 30 million people are eligible to receive the flu vaccine this year, including people aged 65 and older, people in clinical risk groups and pregnant women.
And bosses are concerned that hospitals could struggle this winter amid pressure on the service due to the ongoing industrial strike.
Among the 30 million people eligible to receive the flu vaccine this year are people 65 and older; those from 6 months to those under 65 years of age in clinical risk groups; pregnant women; all children 2 or 3 years old; school-age children; those who are in long-term residences; caregivers and close contacts of immunocompromised people.
Those eligible can book via the NHS website, the NHS app or by calling 119 from 8am
