Madam,

Diabetes UK is urging everyone with diabetes to book their free flu jab and COVID-19 booster to protect themselves and others this winter.

People with diabetes have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if they develop COVID-19. In addition, flu can also be very serious. People living with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to serious complications if they get COVID-19 or flu. Getting COVID-19 or flu can make diabetes harder to manage, causing blood sugar levels to rise dangerously high.

You can find out more here at diabetes.org.uk/flu-jab

With COVID-19 cases rising once more, it’s crucial that people with diabetes stay well and stay out of hospital.

That’s why, more than ever, it is important that people with diabetes book and take up the offer of both jabs. People with diabetes are likely to be contacted soon to book their vaccinations, or you can visit www.nhs.uk/wintervaccinations

It is safe to have both jabs at the same time if this is offered.

If anyone needs advice on how or where to get a flu jab or questions around the COVID-19 booster, please contact the Diabetes UK helpline on 0345 123 2399, Monday - Friday, 9am - 6pm. You can find more information on diabetes, coronavirus and flu at www.diabetes.org.uk

Peter Shorrick, Head of Midlands and East

Diabetes UK

Online opinion
Our readers have been having their say about the stories making the news recently at kidderminstershuttle.co.uk
Here are some of their comments. 

MP Mark Garnier ‘relieved’ as Liz Truss resigns as PM

rabidrabbit said: “We need to get behind a unity Prime Minister and actually get on with running the country properly,” Who is this corporate “we”. One supposes, as the only Government to run the country for the last 12 years or so it is the Conservative Party. The current situation is where “they” have brought “us” to. 
“I do hope that the electorate don’t swallow the next line, that this total, disgraceful and inept behavior of the Government is unfortunately all the fault of the new ex PM Ms Truss and her ex Chancellor. 
“It no longer matters who calls themselves PM. They will be attempting to run the Country with several monkeys on their back. To remedy our ills goes far, far deeper than the determination of one individual stupid enough to allow themselves to be voted the next PM. 
“Our Parliamentary process appears to be on life support, if not dead already. There is no chance of a fair and sane democratic process, so badly needed, in order to be able to begin putting anything right.”

Otisbdriftwood said:  “Still Mr Garnier fails to see the party is digging its own grave and just stands at the back commenting on who should be holding the shovel. 
“As a Tory voter since the 1970s I cannot vote for them again Neither as a party or an MP for the Wyre Forest. They are Labour light.”

Warrick Hunt said: “Shut the door on your way out please, its cold outside and we’ve turned the heating off.”

On Facebook, Ingrid Julie Borgé Criddle said: “The problem is no one has a magic wand… brexit is why food is so high … back to the 1970,s before we joined the EU ! We are still dishing out foreign aid yet our own elderly whom fought the war can’t afford to eat or heat their homes?
“Families will lose their houses because their mortgages have doubled on top of crippling cost of living energy bills sky high, by the way in other countries they aren’t sky high so who’s lying? 
“I’ve been that person whom lost a house in 2009!!!! Do they never learn??????!! What kind of people are running our country?? Rich just keep getting richer I’m ashamed right now to be British!”