Flu jab clinics extend evening hours after record first-week demand

Community flu vaccination clinics in Wrenhaven will open until 8pm on weekdays from next week, after demand in the first week of the autumn programme outstripped the appointments available. Health officials confirmed the change this afternoon, saying details of the new sessions were still being finalised and would be published on the health service's booking page.

The Wrenhaven Community Health Partnership, which runs the programme in the city and the Asher Valley, said all of its weekday appointments for the opening week had been taken within four days of booking opening. Some people who tried to book over the weekend were told the earliest slot was more than two weeks away.

Three clinics affected

The extended hours will apply at the Harbourside Community Health Centre, the Northfield Health Hub and the clinic at Millbrook library. The partnership said it had secured extra vaccine stock to cover the additional sessions and was asking retired nurses on its reserve list to help staff them.

It is good news that so many people are coming forward. Our job now is to make sure nobody who is eligible is left waiting.

Dr Helena Marsh, director of public health for the partnership, said the high demand was welcome. She urged people in eligible groups, including those over 65, pregnant women and people with certain long-term conditions, not to give up if they could not get an early appointment. Many family doctors' practices and local pharmacies also offer the vaccine, she added.

Dr Marsh said the vaccine takes around two weeks to give protection, and that the coming weeks were a good time to have it before flu usually starts to circulate more widely. Anyone unsure whether they are eligible, or with questions about the vaccine and their own health, should speak to their GP or pharmacist.

The partnership said it would also run two walk-in Saturday sessions at Wrenhaven General Hospital later this month. People who are unwell with a fever on the day of their appointment are asked to rebook rather than attend. Further updates are expected later this week.