NHS Dumfries and Galloway bosses are encouraging residents to ensure they receive their winter flu and Covid vaccines. The health board in this region has noted a higher uptake rate of winter vaccines compared to the Scottish average. Despite this positive trend, NHS Dumfries and Galloway is appealing for more individuals to step forward and get vaccinated, particularly as the possibility of a challenging winter flu season looms ahead.
Director of public health, Valerie White, expressed gratitude to those who have already been vaccinated and highlighted the importance of vaccination in protecting against viruses like flu, Covid-19, and RSV. White emphasized that vaccination not only safeguards individuals but also alleviates pressure on the healthcare system by reducing the likelihood and severity of infections.
While the current vaccination uptake rate in Dumfries and Galloway surpasses the national average, the focus remains on reaching out to all eligible individuals and ensuring they are aware of and encouraged to take advantage of the vaccination opportunity. It is crucial for the community to unite in safeguarding themselves and others against these viruses by considering vaccination while it is still readily available.
Residents of Dumfries and Galloway are urged to visit www.nhsinform.scot/wintervaccines or contact the local vaccination helpline on 01387 403090 to check their eligibility and schedule a vaccination appointment. Eligible individuals include adults aged 64 and above, residents and staff in older adult care homes, clinically at-risk groups, frontline health and social care workers, school-age pupils, children aged two to five, poultry workers, non-frontline NHS staff, asylum seekers, individuals who are homeless, prisoners within the Scottish prison estate, pregnant women, and older adults aged 75 to 79.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a prevalent and highly contagious respiratory virus, is another target for vaccination. Pregnant women and older adults aged 75 to 79 as of August are eligible for the RSV vaccine. The health board encourages all eligible individuals to participate in the vaccination campaign to bolster community immunity against these respiratory threats.
In a collective effort to protect public health and support the healthcare system, NHS Dumfries and Galloway underscores the importance of winter vaccinations and urges residents to prioritise their health and well-being by getting vaccinated promptly.