Seasonal flu vaccine and the coronavirus vaccine(COVID-19)

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Please act now whilst we still have stock of seasonal flu vaccine

Seasonal flu vaccination is important because:

  • if you’re at higher risk from coronavirus, you’re also more at risk of problems from flu
  • if you get flu and coronavirus at the same time, research shows you’re more likely to be seriously ill
  • it’ll help to reduce pressure on the NHS and social care staff who may be dealing with coronavirus
  • you are advised to have a seasonal flu vaccine ahead of the COVID-19 vaccine and ensure you have at least 7 days between these two vaccinations

If you’ve had COVID-19, it’s safe to have the flu vaccine. It’ll be effective at helping to prevent flu.

Who can have the flu vaccine?

If you:

  • are 65 and over (including those who’ll be 65 by 31 March 2021)
  • have certain long term health conditions – these include
  • severe asthma
  • COPD
  • Diabetes
  • Heart conditions
  • BMI of 40 or above
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Hepatitis
  • Neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, MND, MS or cerebral palsy
  • Learning disabilities
  • Problems with your spleen such as sickle cell disease or you have had your spleen removed
  • A weakened immune system
  • 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’s at high risk from coronavirus (on the NHS shielded patient list)
  • are frontline health or social care workers

Advice for people aged 50 to 64

If you’re aged 50 to 64 and have a health condition that means you’re more at risk from flu, you should get your flu vaccine as soon as possible.

Other 50- to 64-year-olds will be contacted about a flu vaccine later once we have been given the authorisation by NHS England.

The COVID 19 vaccination programme (Coronavirus)

As a practice we are working hard to plan to give our patients the COVID vaccine once it arrives.  At the moment we don’t have any clear delivery dates so it is very hard to make any firm plans and we are waiting on NHS approval.

Many of you will have read the exciting & promising news that we will be vaccinating you soon! I would urge you not to ring as we have been inundated with queries and patients requesting to go on a waiting list for this vaccine.  Unfortunately we don’t have any more information on definite timescales other than what has been reported nationally.

I can confirm that as a Practice, both for patient health benefits and to ease the restrictions we are currently living under, we will take up this additional service. 

Provisional groups to be called will be pre agreed with NHS England and likely to be older adults resident in a care home and care home workers, followed by those over 80 years old and our health and social care workers.  For interest, we have around 1600 patients over 80 so our staff will be very busy.

We are also working closely with our neighbouring practices to have a local vaccine centre.  This will enable patients to have as much choice as possible taking into account the very different age ranges and circumstances we have in our area.

What can I do in the meantime?

  • Have your seasonal flu vaccine now if you are over 65 or at risk
  • Continue your hand-washing regime
  • Wear a face covering when outside your family/bubble
  • Stay 2 metres apart when you are away from your home
  • With seasonal coughs and colds – catch it, bin it & kill it – get rid of those tissues safely and adhere to cough etiquette

In the meantime, keep safe and keep well and we will update you with news when we have more information.

Jan Lamont, Practice Manager