A leading health official in the Earley and Woodley area has called for people to get vaccinated against coronavirus and flu to prepare for winter.

People are still testing positive for coronavirus in the area, with weekly numbers reaching double figures in some cases.

Both Earley and Woodley have relatively high coronavirus vaccination rates as the autumn period for flu and illnesses loom.

Councillor David Hare is Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services.

He is a Liberal Democrat representative for Hawkedon ward in Lower Earley.

There has been anecdotal evidence that people are feeling ill following their third or booster Covid-19 vaccine.

The NHS website does state that common side effects of the vaccine include:

  • a sore arm from the injection
  • feeling tired
  • a headache
  • feeling achy
  • feeling or being sick

However, the NHS also states that not everyone gets these side effects, and that most symptoms are mild and should not last longer than a week.

Addressing the point around people feeling ill after vaccination, cllr Hare said: “If it’s protecting you it’s positive, even if you don’t feel too well afterwards.

“There may be a day or two of not feeling too well, and that is better than death.

“I know that sounds very dramatic but that’s the bottom line.”

Cllr Hare said that people have been able to get vaccinated at the Salvation Army in Chalfont Close, Lower Earley, Woodley Surgery at 6 Headley Road and the borough council offices in Shute End, Wokingham.

People can ask their GP for more precise information about where they can vaccinated, with cllr Hare stressing that “there are opportunities” for those who want a vaccine.

Cllr Hare also said people can get vaccinations against the flu to protect themselves ahead of winter.

He said: “I would encourage people to get their flu jabs through their GP or local chemists.

“This is going to be a bad year, not only in terms of the cost of living crisis, it’s going to be a hard year healthwise as well.

“Because we’ve been vaccinated as we return to whatever normal is vaccination is important because there will be more diseases going about.

“There are a lot of coughs and colds going around at the moment.”

Earley, Woodley and other suburbs of Reading have relatively high Covid-19 vaccination rates, which can be seen in the table below:

In a closing message, cllr Hare said: “Get vaccinated, but don’t just get your Covid jab, get your flu jab as well.

“It’s about being as prepared as we can for this winter, that’s what matters.

“It still matters. People need to take precautions and that’s what’s important.”