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Boots UK Chief Pharmacist explains why it is still important to book your flu jab as Plan B restrictions lift

04 February 2022
News Healthcare
  • Boots Chief Pharmacist encourages those who haven’t had their flu jab to consider booking an appointment as soon as possible  

  • More workers in England are now returning to the office after the lifting of Plan B restrictions 

  • Patients can now save £5 on Boots’ private Winter Flu Jab Service, which is currently on offer for £9.99 until the end of March 

 

Those who have not had their flu jab already should consider booking an appointmentas soon as possible to help protect themselvesfor the remainder of the flu season, according to Marc Donovan, Chief Pharmacist at Boots UK. 

With Plan B restrictions lifting last weekmany people in England are starting to return to their workplace, socialise with co-workers and increase their daily contact with others. People can still get vaccinated against flu to protect themselves and others this flu season - which typically runs from December until March - and to help reduce the spread of the flu virus. 

The health and beauty retailer is now offering its private Winter Flu Jab Service for £9.99*** until the end of March (was £14.99) for patients who are still yet to receive their flu vaccination this season.  

Marc Donovan said: Whilst the best time to protect against flu is much earlier in the season, the virus is still circulating, albeit at very low levelsAs a result of working from home for so long and a reduced amount of flu circulating last winter, it is possible that people could have lower than usual immunity to flu, so I would encourage those who haven’t already had a flu jab, to get a vaccination 

Flu can be a nasty virus that makes you feel extremely unwell, and it can pose a serious risk to older people and others in vulnerable categories. As with any vaccination, having it does not guarantee you won’t get the virus, but if you do it is likely to be milder and not last as long. The flu vaccination will not only protect you but will also help protect the NHS from being overwhelmed by serious flu cases. 

Boots is delivering its biggest flu vaccination programme in history. The leading health and beauty retailer has seen the highest ever demand for its Winter Flu Jab Service this season and has already administered double the number of vaccinations this flu season compared to last. 

Boots offers free flu jabs on behalf of the NHS* and privately for those who are not eligible for a free NHS flu jab and still has plenty of appointments available.Boots is also supporting the NHS to deliver COVID-19 booster jabs this winter, at selected Boots pharmacies. Appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations can be booked through the central NHS booking system. 

Alongside flu vaccinations, there are a number of different health and wellness products that can be incorporated into a daily routine, such as Vitamin C, D, and zinc  to support a healthy immune system throughout the winter months. You can shop the below vitamins and supplements, alongside hundreds of other products, at boots.com 

*If you’re eligible for the free NHS flu jab, it is available in most Boots pharmacies in England and Wales for customers aged 18+. Eligibility for a free NHS flu jab may be different in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Those living in areas where the free NHS flu jab is not available at Boots can, if eligible, get this through their GP and/or vaccination hubs in Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

 If you're not eligible for a free NHS flu jab, you may want to consider booking the Boots private Winter Flu Jab Service, available at over 2,000 Boots stores across the UK. Subject to stock availability. Eligibility criteria apply. Service costs £14.99* in England, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Service costs £19.99** in Jersey. See boots.com/flujab for more details. The service for those aged 12-15 is available in selected stores, injectable vaccine only. Appointments for those aged 12-15 are bookable in-store only. In some UK countries secondary school children in certain year groups are eligible for free vaccination on the NHS. 

 

*£9.99 during discounted period 

**£14.99 in Jersey post discount 

***£5.00 discount is for Boots Private Winter Flu Jab Service, booked and paid for online or in-store before 30th March 2022. Discount automatically applied at checkout when placing order online or paid for at the pharmacy till. Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria apply. Some customers may be eligible for a free NHS flu jab. 

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Boots is the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer with over 52,000 team members and around 1,900 stores, ranging from local community pharmacies to large destination health and beauty stores.*

Boots serves its customers and patients for life as the leading provider of healthcare on the high street and the UK’s number one beauty destination. It offers an unrivalled depth and breadth of products, which incorporates its extensive own brand range and innovative portfolio of brands, including No7, the UK’s No1 skincare brand, Soap & Glory, Liz Earle Beauty and Sleek MakeUP.

2024 marks Boots’ 175th anniversary year. Founder John Boot opened a herbalist store in Nottingham in 1849 to offer an affordable alternative to traditional medicines. His son Jesse expanded the business to become a modern retailer and the biggest chemist in Britain. Throughout its history, Boots has listened, learned and innovated, and it continues to challenge itself to improve its products and services every day.

Boots is part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, which is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail.  More company information is available on boots-uk.com.

*Figures accurate as of 31 May 2024