North Uttlesford Primary Care Network (PCN) is launching its Covid and flu vaccination programme at the Lord Butler Leisure Centre in Peaslands Road, Saffron Walden next month.

The PCN is comprised of Gold Street, Crocus, Newport and Thaxted surgeries.

Clinics will start on Saturday, October 1 - with care home residents and housebound individuals being the PCN's focus in the interim period.

Clinical director Richard Boyce said: "Along with vaccinations, the pioneering local practices will be taking up-to-date measurements and readings (height and weight for example) to ensure that medical records are as accurate as possible.

"To support this approach we may be contacting patients in anticipation of their appointment to ask them to fill in short health surveys if they are able to use text messaging or the internet.

"If patients are not able to use smartphones or the internet in this way there will be a team on site for most of the weekends we are operational to ensure this vital data is collected for all of our patients and that no one misses out.

"Around 26 million people across England will be eligible for an autumn booster over the comings weeks, which includes over 50s, those with a weakened immune system, health and social care workers, care home residents and housebound people and pregnant women.

"Those patients who are registered with our four surgeries will also be offered a flu jab at the same time.

"Clinics will be running every Saturday from October 1 to November 12, inclusive. Clinicians are in the process of trying to extend availability of appointments by also offering clinics on Fridays during the same period without affecting normal General Practice operations.

"Practices request that patients wait for a text or phone call before booking at the Lord Butler, but if you have not heard from your Practice by October 1, please contact them in order to book.

"The surgeries want to thank all the volunteers who have nearly filled the available slots for the sessions we have planned, along with 1Life and the team at the Lord Butler Leisure Centre, for continuing to be so supportive of our mission to protect our population from Covid and flu this winter."