Around four million people in Scotland to become eligible for the flu vaccine

Scotland is preparing to vaccinate more people against the flu than ever before as around four million people will become eligible for the vaccine.

It will be available to people who are 50-years-old and over.

All secondary school-aged children and school teachers will also become eligible, as well as prison inmates and staff.

People who are between six-months-old and 49-years-old with certain underlying health conditions which increases risk will also be able to get vaccinated.

Scotland's flu vaccination programme will launch next month and run until next March.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf MSP said: “Flu can be extremely serious and is very infectious.

"With Covid-19 still circulating in the community we can best protect the people of Scotland by encouraging everyone eligible to get vaccinated against flu too. 

"That’s why this flu season, we are extending the vaccination programme and offering the flu vaccine to around four million people in Scotland.

"This will help to protect those most at risk as well as ease pressure on our National Health Service and social care services.

"The vaccines are safe and the best way to help protect you, and others, from flu this winter."

Professor Nicola Steedman, Scotland's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said: "The public health measures put in place to help fight against Covid-19 meant that the circulation of flu viruses was very low last season.

"As restrictions continue to lift and we get back to living our lives more normally it is important this year, more than ever, that you receive your flu vaccine if you are eligible, and before flu starts to spread widely."

The Scottish Government has listed the following groups of people who will be eligible for the free flu vaccine this winter:

• those aged 50 and over
• those aged 6 months to 49 years who have certain underlying health conditions which increase risk
• pregnant women
• children aged 2-5 (not yet at school)
• health and social care staff
• unpaid and young carers
• all primary and secondary school age children, (in school setting)
• independent NHS contractors, (GP, dental and optometry practices, community pharmacists), laboratory staff (working on COVID-19 testing) including support staff
• teachers, nursery teachers and support staff in close contact with pupils
• prison staff and support staff in close contact with the prison population (delivering direct detention services)
• those in the prison population