How will Northamptonshire roll out flu vaccine to 380,000 people following new eligibility rules?

Northamptonshire's healthcare is facing the challenge of vaccinating up to 380,000 people this winter after the rules for who can claim a free vaccine were changed this year.

Ahead of this year's winter flu season, the Government widened the eligibility who can get vaccinated for free on the NHS to reduce the impact of both Covid and Influenza on the public.

It now includes children in Year 7, anyone aged between 50 and 64, as well as the wider household members of residents who were on the shielding list from earlier this year.

However, the new rules mean that now more than 380,000 residents - more than half of Northamptonshire's population - is eligible for a shot.

At a press conference on Friday (October 2), director of public health for the county Lucy Wightman said she was "confident" the county can handle the job - but can only ever provide what is available on the national supply chain.

She said: "One of the complexities of Covid coming into winter is the threat, as we do every year, of seasonal flu.

"Clearly that's going to be a significant operational undertaking. But a county wide flu planning group has been in place for several months."

Mrs Wightman said Northamptonshire was preparing to use the voluntary sector, community pharmacists, GPs as well, occupational health, community healthcare trusts and private providers to deliver vaccines.

She also suggested that "drive-through" flu vaccines were being considered to help organisation - and was prepared to amalgamate them with Covid-19 vaccine serves should one become available in the winter.

She said: "It is complex. At the moment we're confident our plans will deliver to all of the eligible population. Our challenge will be as it quite often is is in regard to the national supply chain of the vaccination itself."

Vaccines are currently being allocated to over-65s and high risk groups first, and will move onto newly eligible residents afterwards.