Important information for our patients
To ensure your safety and that of our staff, we will be managing our flu clinics slightly differently this year due to the continuing covid pandemic.
The government has announced that more people will be eligible for flu vaccination this year. The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to people who;
- are 50 and over (including those who'll be 50 by 31 March 2022)
- have certain health conditions
- are pregnant
- are in long-stay residential care
- receive a carer's allowance, or are the main Carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
- live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
- frontline health or social care workers
Eligible primary school children and Year 7 children will be offered the vaccination through their schools’ vaccination programmes.
How our vaccination programme will work this year
Please note that because of the special covid measures in place, you will not be able to book your flu appointment online this year.
If you are eligible to have a flu vaccination, we will contact you. We will text, email or get in touch direct to invite you to make an appointment, When you receive your invitation, please try to telephone the surgery within the following seven days between 9.30am and 4.30pm and our staff will be happy to arrange you flu appointment for you.
Please do not contact us about flu vaccination before we have been in touch with you about your vaccination.
Patients considered to be at highest risk rom flu will be given priority for early appointments.
If you have any queries regarding flu vaccination, please go to www.gov.uk or www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine. If you still have any queries about your flu vaccination, please telephone the surgery and speak to a practice nurse before you attend for your appointment.
Guidance when attending for your vaccination
When attending for your flu vaccination it is very important that you follow all the guidance below:
- If you are unwell on the day of your appointment, please do not attend. It would help if you would contact us a few days later and ask to be given an appointment for the next vaccination session.
- Please do go to the toilet before you leave home - ours will be out of use during our main flu clinics.
- Please attend alone if possible.
- Bring as few items as possible with you.
- Please wear a face covering.
- Please wear loose clothing suitable to allow quick and easy access to your upper arm for vaccination.
- Please arrive at the time of your appointment, otherwise you will be asked to wait in your car or outside.
- We will measure your temperature when you arrive at the front door, and if it is 37.8ºC or over, or you have a new continuous cough or loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, we will ask you to return home without being vaccination and we will advise you to visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19 to find out what to do. If you do not have internet access, you should phone 111 for advice.
- If your temperature is normal, we will ask you to sanitise your hands and book in at reception before joining a socially distanced queue through the waiting room.
- You will then be directed through to a doctor or nurse for your vaccination. Please remember that you will not be able to discuss any other problem with the doctor or nurse during your appointment.
- Once you have had your vaccination, you will be directed through a one-way system out of the building, sanitising your hands on the way.
Please help us to keep you, other patients and our staff safe by following all of this guidance.