The NHS is urging senior citizens to get their Covid-19 booster jabs and strengthen their protection against the virus, amid rising hospital admissions due to a new Covid variant.
There is a waiting slot available for a booster vaccine on the NHS website for people aged 65 or over, or by calling 119.
The NHS said the vaccines will soon be provided for free to more vulnerable groups.
Steve Russell, director of the NHS's vaccinations and screening division, said: The vaccines and screening program was a significant success.
Data released by the UK Health Security Agency earlier this week showed that hospital admissions for patients who tested positive for Covid-19 rose to 4.6 per 100,000 patients in the week to September, up from 3.7 per 100,000 the previous week. This was highest since April 30th when the week ended at 30:40, the highest since the week ending April 30th.
This is still some way below the level reached at Christmas 2022, when the rate stood at 11.8 per 100,000, and is also well below the figures seen during the first year of the pandemic.
Hospitalisation rates for Covid have been on an upward trend for the past two months, despite an Intensive Care admissions low.
Vulnerable groups, particularly people above the age of 85, make up most of the hospitalisations seen in recent weeks.
It is important all those eligible come forward when offered and get protected against flu and Covid.