Vulnerable residents of Blackburn with Darwen are being urged to get their flu and coronavirus jabs before winter bites.

Both are now being offered by the borough's NHS, and the NHS Covid-19 vaccine schedule has been moved forward due to a new variant of the virus which is circulating.

Annual flu jabs are also currently being offered to eligible people.

The Covid-19 online booking system is now live.

Those eligible for the booster jab are those aged 65-years-old or over by March 31, 2024; residents aged aged six months to 64 years old who are at increased risk; people living in a care home for older adults; pregnant women; frontline health and social care workers; carers aged 16 to 64; and those aged 12 to 64 years old who live with someone with a weakened immune system.

The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to adults who are 65 and over by March 31; have certain health conditions; are pregnant; are in long-stay residential care; receive a carer’s allowance or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if they get sick.

Abdul Razaq, Blackburn with Darwen’s director of public health, said: "If you are eligible, it is really important that you go along for your Covid and flu jabs this Autumn.

"It is the most effective action we can take to protect ourselves, stay well and prevent passing on infections to others.

"The latest surveillance data suggests that Covid hospital admissions have begun to see a slight increase, and there are also new variants in circulation which have brought the programme forward.

"Flu can be a very unpleasant illness for some and every year there are a significant number of flu related deaths.

"I would urge everyone eligible for the jabs to take up this offer and make sure you are vaccinated against both Covid and flu.”