Bolton GP Dr Helen Wall urged people to 'get winter strong' by protecting themselves from potentially life-changing illnesses. The doctor who is also the who is the clinical director for population health at NHS Greater Manchester helped launch this year's campaign to prevent a potential 'tripledemic' of viruses. And she urged people to take a minute and research the facts for themselves - rather than turning to social media.
Buses are helping to drive home the importance of being vaccinated this winter with special messages reminding those eligible to protect themselves against viruses including flu, Covid but particularly Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Health officials say that RSV vaccination programme could prevent thousands of hospital admissions for babies and elderly people which would also help to ease pressure on the NHS in the run-up to the winter months. Across the Northwest, more than 2.
8 million people are eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and 4.2 million can get the flu vaccination. Last Autumn, a total of 102,759 eligible people in Bolton received their booster jab, resulting in a 45.
6% uptake. A total of 9,222 people who were deemed as "at risk" received their vaccination last year, resulting in an uptake of 23.1%.
Although these numbers are down from the previous year, in which a total of 13,885 received their booster with an uptake of 34.8%. A grand total of 46,884 people received their vaccination this autumn, including care home residents (1,04.