• Boots aims to administer millions of vaccinations this winter – its largest number on record
• Health and beauty retailer already seen demand soar with a 100,000 strong waiting list
• Boots is responding to the potential for a serious flu epidemic this winder

 Boots UK has opened bookings for its Winter Flu Jab Service and is urging patients to book now amid concerns that immunity to flu among the UK population will be lower this year as a result of lockdowns.

To help the country reduce the risk of a serious influenza epidemic, Boots is planning its biggest ever flu vaccination season on record. It aims to deliver over three times the number of vaccinations between September 2021 and March 2022, compared to the 2020-21 season.

To do this, Boots plans to create special hubs to deliver flu vaccinations at dedicated areas in over 100 of its pharmacies, rather than rely on consultation rooms alone. These will be an expansion of the Boots COVID-19 vaccination hubs and located in city centre stores and towns across the UK. Boots also plans to support the NHS to deliver COVID-19 booster jabs this winter season.

Marc Donovan, Chief Pharmacist at Boots, said: “Most adults will have had both COVID-19 vaccinations by September. My advice to people is to make sure they are protected from flu as well by booking a vaccination as early as possible. Flu can be a nasty virus that makes you feel extremely unwell, and it can pose a serious risk to older people and others in vulnerable categories. Increased take up of flu vaccinations will not only protect you but also protect the NHS from being overwhelmed by serious flu cases.”

Boots will offer free flu jabs on behalf of the NHS and privately for those who are not eligible for a free NHS flu jab. The free NHS flu jab is available in pharmacies to adults aged 50 and over, and other adults aged 18 and over with certain medical conditions or who fall into other eligible NHS groups such as carers. Boots Winter Flu Jab Service is available privately and costs £14.99. 

Boots will offer a free vaccination to all its 52,000 colleagues for the second year running. It also runs a Corporate Flu Vaccination Service for organisations that wish to pay for and then offer their employees a free flu vaccination.

For more information and to book a flu jab from September, visit boots.com/flu2021.

*Boots Winter Flu Jab Service available in most of Boots pharmacies in England and Wales and some in Scotland, dependent upon the local health board. Eligibility criteria apply. Flu jabs will also be available in the Isle of Mann, Jersey and Guernsey.