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Now more than ever: a case study with Asoke Dutta

"I am more concerned now with variations of coronavirus that those who are eligible to take the booster vaccines should do so."

This year, Age UK London’s winter vaccine campaign will support older Londoners, including those most at risk from flu and Covid-19, with information on the benefits of both the flu vaccine and the Covid-19 booster and how they can be accessed. 

We recently spoke to Asoke, an older Londoner, to ask about his thoughts on the flu jab and Covid booster and why it is so important to protect yourself and those around you this year.

You’ve been invited for the flu jab as well as the booster Covid vaccination, can you tell us a bit more about your situation?

I live in Harrow in North West London, which is an area that had the least uptake of both vaccines. 

I was invited by my surgery to take vaccines as I have been identified as a clinically vulnerable person. I was given options to take both, either of the two or none and I decided to take both vaccines.

Have your thoughts on the flu jab changed since last year?

I have always taken flu vaccine. Since Covid-19 came I have thought that it was important to take vaccines against coronavirus as well as flu vaccines.

I am more concerned now with variations of coronavirus that those who are eligible to take the booster vaccines should do so. It would save many lives and would take pressure off GPs and hospitals. Influenza is a serial killer of older people and no doubt it would hit vulnerable people this year again.

Most people that I know of have taken vaccines against flu and coronavirus. My wife was also given the options and she has decided to take both. I do not know when vaccines would be available but I hope that they would be available before winter sets in.