Responding to news that all over-50s will be offered COVID-19 booster and flu jabs this autumn, the director of policy and strategy and interim deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin, said:

"It's helpful to have this clarity over these very important vaccination programmes.

"The recent sharp rises in COVID-19 infections and hospital admissions underline the continuing threat posed by the virus and maintaining the wider eligibility for a free flu vaccine is a further sensible precaution, reducing the risk of serious illness and consequent additional pressures on the NHS.

"It will be important for integrated care systems to consider how they can most effectively reach people who are vaccine hesitant."