Significant rise in Doncaster pensioners coming forward for flu jabs

But doctors are still urging residents to get their jabs as the borough gears up to cope with winter during the current coronavirus pandemic.

Officials say residents in all areas of Doncaster are doing exceptionally well for the over 65s coming forward for their injections but they are still working to increase the number of people in other age groups, as the Government announced today free jabs for over 50s from next month.

As of November 2, for over 65s, based on data from 34 of 39 borough GP practices so, there had been a 76.1 per cent uptake of the injections.

The figure at the same point last year was 59.4 per cent.

But officials at the Doncaster NHS Clinical Commissioning Group are still calling for eligible people to have their flu vaccine.

A spokesman said the nine areas showing the highest uptake were Scawthorpe, Sprotbrough, Mexborough, Bawtry, Edlington, Barnburgh, Hatfield, Armthorpe, and Thorne.

Meanwhile, thousands of NHS staff at the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Trust have recieved their vaccinations over a two week period.

It has seen jabs for more than 2,000 nurses, doctors and other health professionals have volunteered to get their flu jab at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH).

Health bosses say they are placing significant emphasis on this winter’s campaign as there is a potential for flu, norovirus and Covid-19 to be circulating.

David Purdue, deputy chief executive and director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, is among those to have been immunised at the Doncaster Royal infirmary as part of its plans.

He said: “Ensuring colleagues protect themselves against flu is extremely important, however it is even more so this year. Team DBTH have been working hard since March to fight against Covid-19, and as winter arrives we will begin to see cases of both flu and norovirus, in addition to the challenges presented by the pandemic. Getting the jab ensures our staff are protecting themselves, their colleagues, and their friends, family and loved ones.”

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