First Minister Receives Flu Vaccine in Edinburgh
John Swinney, the First Minister, received his flu vaccine at NHS Lothian’s centre in Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh. He emphasized that the flu vaccine is a “crucial” measure to protect the NHS during the winter months.
Groups Eligible for the Flu Vaccine
- People aged 65 and older
- Pregnant women
- Individuals with certain health conditions
- Unpaid carers
- Health and social care workers
Mr Swinney is eligible for the vaccine as he is an unpaid carer for a family member.
Impact of Flu on the NHS
During the previous flu season, approximately 6,500 people in Scotland required hospital treatment, placing significant strain on the NHS.
“There’s 980,000 vaccines have been deployed already, and we are seeing, despite all of that, a slight increase in the level of admissions to hospital as a consequence of flu,” Mr Swinney told PA news agency.
He added the situation is closely monitored under the health and social care system to ensure protection for the public and healthcare workers.
“A crucial component of this is making sure that we have adequate levels of vaccination to members of the public and our health and social care system are protected.”
Author’s Summary
The First Minister highlights flu vaccination as vital this winter to reduce hospital admissions and safeguard the NHS amid ongoing flu challenges.