Advice as winter bugs circulate

As people across Oxfordshire return to work and school, there are still high levels of winter bugs circulating across the county.

Residents can protect themselves by continuing to take simple precautions such as staying at home if feeling unwell or with a fever, regular hand washing with soap and warm water, catching coughs and sneezes in tissues then binning them, and wearing a face covering if needing to go out when unwell.

Opening windows to ventilate enclosed and crowded spaces can also help to reduce transmission. When unwell, please don’t visit vulnerable individuals or healthcare settings unless urgent.

Vaccines for flu and COVID-19 are still available for all eligible groups and is the best protection against both viruses.

Eligible people for flu vaccination includes:

• those aged 2 and 3 on 31 August 2022
• all primary school-aged children
• some secondary school-aged children
• pregnancy women
• those aged under 50 years in clinical risk groups
• all those aged 50 years and over
• carers, and frontline health and social care staff

More information can be obtained about the COVID and flu vaccines can be obtained on the NHS website: Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)  and Flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)