Flu vaccine plea ahead of Diwali celebrations

Community flu vaccination clinics are being held in Nottingham ahead of Diwali gatherings

People aged 65 and over are being urged to get their winter flu vaccinations before celebrating Diwali.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is calling on the age group to get their flu jabs ahead of the Hindu festival of light, as illnesses can spread more easily in large gatherings.

National figures from NHS England show 64.7% of over 65s identifying as Asian or Asian British took up the vaccine in 2024 - compared to 79.1% for white British people in the same age group.

Carrington Pharmacy in Nottingham has been running a vaccination clinic at the Indian Community Centre Association (ICCA) for people coming together to celebrate Diwali.

Special prayers have been held at the ICCA in Nottingham to mark Diwali

Kashmeera Gorecha, chairwoman at the ICCA said: "We do find that many ethnic diverse communities have that stigma attached to vaccinations, so they often don't take the vaccines.

"This is festival season for many communities, particularly the South Asian community, we've got Diwali, we've just had Navratri, we have so many other things going on this half of the year and it's all about getting together.

"[There is] the whole super spreader element to it. If you're not vaccinated, you're vulnerable."

Arunaben Patel, 83, from Nottingham, who had her flu vaccination at the ICCA, said she will be celebrating Diwali with more than 50 members of her family.

"It helps quite a lot to be vaccinated and the winter is coming.

"Most people are getting ill with coughs and colds, they can still have those, but the flu injection makes the symptoms mild."

Deepak Bilakhia, lead pharmacist at Carrington Pharmacy, wants more people to take up the flu vaccine

Deepak Bilakhia, lead pharmacist at Carrington Pharmacy, which has been running the clinics at the ICCA, said he hoped to reach people who were sceptical about the vaccines.

"It's important because there are some people who live on their own and their family is not nearby.

"So if we can get the message out to the public in this community setting to say, 'look, please get vaccinated'.

"If they see somebody else getting vaccinated, they're more likely to have themselves vaccinated as well," he said.

Kirit Mistry said he hoped to have a healthy Diwali by taking part in the vaccination programme

Kirit Mistry, from South Asian Health Action added: "Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to stay healthy as we come together to spend time with families and friends.

"Vaccinations not only keep us safe from serious illness but also help ensure a joyful and sickness-free Diwali."