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Surrey Carers Flu Jab Voucher available for unpaid carers
Flu and Covid-19 viruses can be life threatening and have the potential to increase pressures faced by the NHS this winter, particularly if infection waves from both viruses coincide.
Getting your flu and Covid vaccines are two of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others around you safe this winter. We are therefore encouraging all unpaid carers in Surrey to take up the offer of a free flu vaccination as a priority, not only to protect themselves and the people they care for, but to help reduce hospitalisations during a time that we expect will be especially busy for the NHS and social care.
Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership, Frimley Health and Care and Surrey County Council are working together to launch the Surrey Carers Flu Jab Voucher campaign to encourage unpaid carers to get the flu jab as early as possible this flu season.
Carers who look after someone who is elderly or disabled can ask for a flu vaccine at their GP practice or show their Surrey Carers Flu Jab Voucher when asking for a flu jab at a pharmacy offering the NHS flu vaccine. The voucher provides assurance that the carer is known to carers services in Surrey and is therefore entitled to a free flu vaccination.
Surrey Carers Flu Jab Vouchers are available through all of our Carers Support Services, you’ll find their contact details on their websites:
- Action for Carers Surrey
- Surrey County Council Adult Social Care
- Crossroads Care Surrey
- Surrey Independent Living Charity
- Healthwatch Surrey
- Space2beYou
- Alzheimer’s Society
Young carers are encouraged to contact their GP for advice on flu vaccination
With autumn approaching, we need to protect carers and those they care for from seasonal flu. Carers could pass the flu virus on to the person they care for, even if they have no symptoms themselves.
Dr Sue Tresman, Independent Carers Lead Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership said:
It’s really important that Carers look after themselves and take advantage of the free flu vaccine available to them. I would like to encourage all our Surrey Carers to protect themselves and those they care for.
Mark Nuti, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, said:
Carers play a hugely important role in our communities, ensuring loved ones are safe and well throughout the year. It's so important that we support this scheme which will help ensure our carers and their loved ones are protected through the winter months.
Find out more about flu vaccinations in Surrey Heartlands: