Flu and Covid 2023

To give patients the best protection from Covid and Flu during the winter and through the period of greatest risk in December 2023 and early January 2024, providers have been asked to commence autumn/winter seasonal vaccines from September. This is because vaccine protection is highest within the first 3 months following vaccination. Therefore, all combined Flu and Covid clinics will start on 16th September with further dates throughout September and October. We have started to contact eligible patients to offer appointments and will continue to do so over the coming weeks. If you have not received a text message, email, or letter from the practice and you fit the eligibility criteria below, please contact us to arrange an appointment.

Eligibility

You are eligible for a free NHS Autumn/Winter vaccines if you fit one or more of the following criteria:

Flu vaccination:

• those aged 65 years and over (including patients who will turn 65 by 31st March 2024)
• those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
• pregnant women
• all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023
• primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6). An expansion to secondary school-aged children (Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11) is being considered. Should this be confirmed, further guidance will follow. All school age children will be offered their vaccination in school. Eligible children with an underlying health condition are also able to book an appointment at the practice if preferred.
• those in long-stay residential care homes
• carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
• household contacts of immunocompromised individuals
• frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants

Covid-19 booster

Please note the surgery can only offer covid-19 vaccinations to patients over the age of 16, children under 16 will need to attend a hospital vaccination centre:

• those aged 65 years and over (including patients who will turn 65 by 31stMarch 2024)
• persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book, COVID-19 chapter (Green Book)
• residents in a care home for older adults
• persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (as defined in the Green Book) and staff working in care homes for older adults
• persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts (as defined in the Green Book) of people with immunosuppression
• frontline health and social care workers

Support your Surgery

We have recently launched our Autumn and Winter vaccinations campaign. By having your Flu and Covid vaccinations at the surgery you are supporting us in providing the best possible health care. The income we generate from providing this service is used to enhance and increase the number of clinicians we employ. Please book an appointment for your Flu Jab and Covid Boosters at the practice. Please support your surgery.

Additional Vaccinations

Patients who are eligible for other vaccinations that can be safely administered alongside your seasonal vaccinations will have the opportunity to book in for these at the same time. These vaccines include shingles, pertussis, and pneumococcal vaccines. You will be advised at the time of booking your appointment whether you are eligible for any other vaccines.