We can confirm that invitations to receive the COVID-19 vaccination have now started and local vaccinations are commencing this week. Invitations will initially be made via telephone and text message. Invitations will be sent gradually according to both the supply of vaccine from the NHS, and according to the priority groups set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisation, so you do not need to contact the surgery.
Please check this leaflet for Recognising Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptoms.
Flu Clinics
Nasal Flu vaccine is now available to all the children born between 01/09/2016 – 31/08/2018 Inclusive and those aged 4 to 17 years old and fall in one of the at-risk categories, see below.
Clinical at risk groups aged 18-64yrs
All those aged 65 years & above
Patients aged 50 – 64 years.
We have limited vaccines available, so please call, the surgery to make your appointment.
Influenza vaccine should be offered to people in the clinical risk categories set out below.
Clinical risk category
Examples (this list is not exhaustive and decisions should be based on clinical judgement)
Chronic respiratory disease
Asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and emphysema; bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
Children who have previously been admitted to hospital for lower respiratory tract disease.
Chronic heart disease
Congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronic heart failure, individuals requiring regular medication and/or follow-up for ischaemic heart disease.
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5, chronic kidney failure, nephrotic syndrome, kidney transplantation.
Chronic liver disease
Cirrhosis, biliary atresia, chronic hepatitis.
Chronic neurological disease (included in the DES directions for Wales)
Stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Conditions in which respiratory function may be compromised due to neurological disease (e.g. polio syndrome sufferers). Clinicians should offer immunisation, based on individual assessment, to clinically vulnerable individuals including those with cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis and related or similar conditions; or hereditary and degenerative disease of the nervous system or muscles; or severe neurological disability.
Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs, diet-controlled diabetes.
Immunosuppression (see contraindications and precautions section on live attenuated influenza vaccine)
Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including patients undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression, bone marrow transplant, HIV infection at all stages, multiple myeloma or genetic disorders affecting the immune system (e.g. IRAK-4, NEMO, complement disorder).
Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for more than a month at a dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or more per day (any age), or for children under 20kg, a dose of 1mg or more per kg per day.
It is difficult to define at what level of immunosuppression a patient could be considered to be at a greater risk of the serious consequences of influenza and should be offered influenza vaccination. This decision is best made on an individual basis and left to the patient’s clinician.
Some immunocompromised patients may have a suboptimal immunological response to the vaccine.
Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
This also includes conditions such as homozygous sickle cell disease and coeliac syndrome that may lead to splenic dysfunction.
Pregnant women
Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy (first, second or third trimesters).
