Flu Vaccination season winter 2019/20
Vaccines will be available from September 2019. Further details will be added here later in the year.
Flu Vaccination for Children
This is a nasal flu (no needles!) and will be available Autumn 2019.
For information, the ‘at risk’ groups we recommend receive vaccination are:
Diabetes, Asthma (using oral steroids or a steroid inhaler), Stroke, Chronic Lung, Heart, Liver or Kidney disease. Patients taking immunosuppressive drugs, including chemotherapy and sole main Carers of vulnerable patients are also eligible.
In addition, Pregnant patients are advised to be vaccinated against flu and have a Pertussis (whooping cough) booster.
Travellers to some parts of the world ie Africa are also advised to be vaccinated.
Some other categories of disease are also eligible- if in doubt please ask.
There is no charge for this.
Most of these patients (excluding asthmatics & Carers) are also recommended to have Pneumonia vaccination – for the vast majority of patients this is a single vaccination ie no boosters needed.
General Flu Information
- Flu is caused by a number of different types of influenza viruses.
- The incubation period is typically 1-4 days
- Infected adults are usually contagious from the day before to 5 days after illness onset. Children are typically contagious for 7 days (although sometimes longer)
- Fever usually declines after 2 – 3 days and normally disappears by the 6th day.
- Cough, weakness and fatigue can persist for 1-2 weeks (and up to 6 weeks.)
- Antibiotics do not benefit most people with influenza but are sometimes needed to treat secondary infections.
- Home Treatment – There is little scientific evidence for most symptomatic and self-help treatment, but experience suggests that some of the following may help, and are unlikely to cause harm.
- Treatment of fever, myalgias (muscle pains) and headache with paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Avoid smoking (including anyone in the house)
- Consider: short course of topical decongestants (check with pharmacist if on medication), throat lozenges, saline nose drops.
Flu Clinic 2019
Saturday 12th October 2019 from 9am to 12 noon in the Old School Hall as usual. Any eligible adult registered patients can attend – no appointment necessary.
This started in October 2013
Shingles vaccinations are available to patients aged 70,71,72,73,74, 75,78 and 79. Eligibility remains up to the 80th birthday. If you were previously eligible but missed it, we can offer vaccination at a routine nurse appointment now.
There is a useful website which will confirm whether or not you are eligible for this free vaccination just by putting in your date of birth. Here is the link:
Child Immunisation Clinic
Due to the complexity of vaccines used we prefer to carry out all childhood vaccinations in dedicated time slots on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Appointments are usually sent by post. If this presents particular problems for you please speak to a member of staff.
Mid-teen booster vaccinations can be performed at any time.
Child Immunisation Schedule
This has recently changed. There is now no Meningitis C booster for infants, but Rotavirus has been added plus Meningitis B.
Immunisations given at 2,3 & 4 months includes Pneumonia, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio, Hib and Meningitis B and Rotavirus. There are now immunisations at 1 year to account for the relevant boosters (ie Pneumonia, Meningitis C & Hib), in addition to the usual MMR.
Meningitis B is offered on the NHS to all babies born on or after 1st July 2015 and given at age 2,4 and 12 months.
The pre-school booster, which includes MMR, is usually carried out from age 3½ yrs. For children age 3 & 4 the booster will include a Hib/Meningitis C vaccination.
The mid teen booster of Dip/Tet/Polio will also now include Meningitis ACW&Y.
The national programme was introduced in Sept 2008 with all girls in year 8 (aged 12 to 13 years) offered vaccinations. A catch-up HPV booster programme has now been introduced for girls aged 14 to under 18 who missed the opportunity to be vaccinated at school. Please ask for details.