A CONSULTANT orthopaedic surgeon is urging people in Ludlow and south Shropshire to make sure that they are vaccinated against Covid-19.

The respected clinician, who has recently recovered from Covid-19, is encouraging those who are eligible, living in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, to get their booster dose and flu vaccination, ahead of the challenging winter months.

Sudheer Karlakki, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital is stressing the importance of getting both Covid-19 booster and flu vaccines, after recently recovering from a debilitating bout of the virus.

The plea comes as those eligible can now book their booster online if it’s been five months (152 days) since their second dose, for them to be offered appointment dates from six months (182 days) after the date of their second dose.

“The last time I was this ill was when I had typhoid when I was nine years old,” said Mr Karlakki.

“I probably avoided hospitalisation because I’d been vaccinated earlier on in the year and had antibodies in my blood, as I found out later.

“Both Covid-19 and the flu can be life-threatening and having them together would be particular dangerous.”