Boots reduced the price of its private winter flu jab from £16.99 to £9.95 last month (December 23) amid a rise in hospital flu cases of “two thirds in one week”, it said.

Superdrug followed close on Boots’ heels by slashing the price of its private flu vaccine to £8.99 from £15.99 last week, a spokesperson told C+D yesterday (January 4).

The multiple “lowered the price of its private flu vaccination to support more people to get vaccinated”, they added.

Read more: Asda slashes flu jab cost by half following 'rapid rise' in cases

“This pricing will remain in place until the end of the flu season and Superdrug’s flu vaccination service,” the spokesperson said.

This was echoed by Boots, which said it would keep its flu jab at £9.95 until March 31.

A Tesco spokesperson also told C+D that it introduced a Clubcard price on private flu jabs in December – with jabs now £5 until the end of January for Clubcard holders or £11 without a Clubcard.

It comes after both Asda and Well lowered their flu vaccine cost to £4.98 and £10 respectively last month.  

 

Morrisons “reviewing” flu jab price

 

Meanwhile, a Morrisons spokesperson told C+D that the multiple has “no plans at the moment” to drop the price of its private flu vaccine, “but [is] constantly reviewing” the option.

“Our flu jabs are currently £10 and have been all season,” they added.

As well as their private jabs, Boots, Morrisons, Tesco and Superdrug all confirmed that they continue to offer free flu vaccines to eligible groups.

Boots superintendent pharmacist Claire Nevinson said: “Flu is an unpleasant virus that can make you feel really unwell. Getting your flu jab is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and the NHS from the virus this winter.

Read more: ‘Empty shelves’: Pharmacies flag cold and flu med supply issues as demand spikes

“If you do catch flu after having been vaccinated, your symptoms are likely to be much milder. Having the flu jab also reduces the risk of passing the virus onto others,” she added.

NHS England last week warned that its fears of a COVID-19 and flu “twindemic” have “been realised”, with its latest data showing hospital flu cases rising seven-fold in just a month.

And the latest data released by the UK Health Security Agency last month showed that flu positivity rates have “increased further” to 26.4%, with cases remaining highest between five to 14-year-olds.

C+D reported yesterday that pharmacists are struggling to get hold of medicines such as Lemsip amid a significant increase in demand for cold and flu treatments.