Swinney has flu jab and warns vaccine ‘crucial’ to protecting NHS this winter

The flu vaccine will be a “crucial” part of protecting the NHS over winter, John Swinney has said as he received his own jag.

The First Minister was given his winter flu vaccine injection by Tina McInnes at NHS Lothian’s centre in Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh, on Thursday.

Groups eligible for the vaccine include people aged 65 and older, pregnant women and those with certain health conditions.

Unpaid carers, and health and social care staff are also eligible.

Mr Swinney qualifies due to being an unpaid carer for a family member.

During last year’s flu season, 6,500 people in Scotland required hospital treatment, putting the NHS under strain.

The First Minister said nearly a million vaccines have been administered so far, but there has nevertheless been a slight increase in hospital admissions due to flu.

Speaking to the PA news agency after receiving his jag, Mr Swinney said: “There’s 980,000 vaccines have been deployed already, and we are seeing, despite all of that, a slight increase in the level of admissions to hospital as a consequence of flu.

“We need to be very attentive – that has all been monitored under the health and social care system.

“A crucial component of this is making sure that we have adequate levels of vaccination to members of the public and our health and social care system are protected.”