Vaccine News

Posted on April 1st, 2023

Flu and Covid vaccines available from 3rd October

All eligible patients will receive a text and can book an appointment via a booking link within the text.  If we do not hold a mobile number for you, please phone the practice and select option 3 for our dedicated flu and covid vaccine booking line.

The flu vaccine is recommended for people with certain long-term health conditions, including:

• conditions that affect your breathing, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis
• heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
• chronic kidney disease
• liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis
• some conditions that affect your brain or nerves, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy
• diabetes or Addison’s disease
• a weakened immune system due to a condition such as HIV or AIDS, or due to a treatment such as chemotherapy or steroid medicine
• problems with your spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or if you’ve had your spleen removed
• a learning disability
• being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above

Further information about Flu vaccine eligibility can be found here

The covid vaccine is recommended for a smaller group of people, including:

• adults aged 65 years and over
• residents in a care home for older adults
• individuals aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group (as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)
• frontline NHS and social care workers, and those working in care homes for older people
• Some patients who are immunosuppressed, however, not all patients with a weakened immune system are eligible. Please check online at nhs.uk/get-vaccine to see if you are eligible.

Further information about Covid vaccine eligibility can be found here

Whilst the flu vaccine is free for all patients, the practice has to buy the vaccine and orders are placed for all of our patients 12 months in advance. Please support the practice and have your flu vaccine with us if you can. Appointments available on Saturdays 5th, 12th 19th October and Monday evenings 6 – 8pm through October and November. We will also hold Tuesday and Friday afternoon clinics on various dates throughout October and November. Currently appointments are available for all dates.

*Please note: If you are visiting for a nurse appointment it may be possible to have your flu vaccine at the same time but covid vaccines can only be given in a clinic, as there are 6 doses of covid in each vial.

Don’t delay, book today!

RSV Vaccines 

RSV vaccines are available for patients aged 75  years old to protect against Respiratory Syncytial Virus. This will become part of the routine vaccination programme and will be offered to patients who turn 75 in their birthday year. For the first year of the programme we are offering catch-up vaccines for patients aged 75 – 79 years. Further information about the RSV vaccine can be found here

Don’t forget your travel vaccines!