Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie is urging local residents to get a flu jab this winter as the government rolls out the country’s biggest ever free vaccination programme for the virus.

Around 30 million people are now eligible for the jab including, for the first time, those aged 50 to 64 and Year 7 schoolchildren.

The need for the vaccinations is now acute as new research from Public Health England suggests that people who test positive for both flu and Covid-19 were more than twice as likely to die, compared to those with Covid-19 alone.

The research also found that those with co-infection of the two viruses were more at risk of severe illness.

“The NHS will have to battle both Covid and the flu this winter so I would urge everyone who is eligible for this free flu jab to get booked in as soon as possible,” said Ms Baillie.

“Doing so is quick and simple and will certainly ease pressure on the NHS and our other care services. The new research has shown it will also do a great deal to avoid deaths too.

“It is not going to stop everyone getting ill but it is a great weapon in the forthcoming battle we must fight over the coming months to keep as many people as we can healthy and out of hospital.”

Stroud's MP also urged those not eligible for the free jab to consider paying for it, if they can afford to do so.

“The price for a flu jab looks to be around £15 on average and I understand that this is a lot of money to some people but I do think it will be money well spent to protect our families, our communities, the vulnerable and our work colleagues,” she added.

Others eligible for the vaccination include pregnant women, all primary school children, two and three-year-olds, those aged 65 or older and people on the NHS shielded patient list.

Some health and social care workers plus those with long-term health conditions are also included in the free programme

The newly eligible 50 to 64 category will receive their jabs later in the season.