Dr Charlie Sharp, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, talks about why he’s urging people with long term lung conditions to take up the offer of COVID and flu vaccines this winter.

We know that if you have a long term lung condition, you are at higher risk of becoming very unwell if you catch flu or COVID, particularly over the winter months.  That’s why you are eligible for free vaccinations against both infections.

This may be due to conditions such as COPD, severe asthma, lung scarring and some heart conditions too.

Every winter I see people who are critically unwell with lung viruses, needing help with their breathing and sadly dying from what should be a preventable infection.  Even those who recover can take several months to get back to normal.  These are not simple or mild infections for many people.

Vaccines are the safest and most effective way to help protect against flu and COVID and are designed to help protect those who are most at risk from developing complications from the virus.

We offer the vaccinations every autumn as the viruses change over time, so your immunity wears off.  The vaccine is updated annually to try to target the most common strains of virus circulating each year.

If you’re eligible for the vaccinations, your GP practice will be in touch very soon if they haven’t already invited you to book an appointment, so please do take up the offer and protect yourself from severe illness this winter.

You may also be able to access your jabs via a pharmacy using the national booking system, either through the website (nhs.uk/covidvaccination), the NHS app, or by calling 119.

If you have any of these respiratory conditions then you’re eligible for flu and COVID vaccines:

  • asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of steroids or a hospital admission in last two years
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
  • bronchiectasis
  • cystic fibrosis
  • interstitial lung fibrosis
  • pneumoconiosis
  • bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

There are other long term conditions which make people particularly vulnerable to serious illness from flu and COVID. These include heart, kidney or liver disease, those with a weakened immune system, neurological conditions, diabetes, problems with the spleen, those with a learning disability, severe mental illness, or being overweight, with a BMI of 40 or above.

You can find out more about the vaccines on NHS Gloucestershire’s seasonal vaccination page here.