This year, three types of flu vaccine will be used in the flu programme as recommended by (JCVI) and Public Health England. This will benefit patients by ensuring that they have the most suitable vaccine that gives them the best protection against flu. The three vaccines are:
Adjuvanted trivalent flu vaccine (aTIV) – This is licensed for people aged 65 years and over and is the vaccine recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI) for this age group. The deliveries of aTIV to practices and pharmacies will be staged between September and early November.
Quadrivalent vaccine (QIV) – This is recommended for adults from 18 years to less than 65 years of age who are at increased risk from flu because of a long term health condition.
In general practice and via school based programmes:
Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) – This is a nasal spray and is licensed for children and young people from 2 years old to less than 18 years of age. The age groups targeted in England for this vaccine in 2018/19 are two and three year olds (through their GP surgery) and school aged children in reception class through to Year 5 (through schools). If LAIV is clinically contraindicated QIV is used in this age group. Both are ordered centrally from Vaccine Supply.
Keyworth Medical Practice will receive staggered deliveries of vaccines through September and October (Subject to change) and have been advised to start vaccinating each eligible group as the appropriate vaccine for them becomes available. Vaccination is recommended for all patient groups covered by the flu programme, usually between September and December.
Keyworth Medical Practice patients will receive invites for a flu jab based on prioritisation following the below criteria due to staggered deliveries, please wait to receive your letter of invite which will explain what you need to do.
|1.||Those aged 75 years and over||This group have been shown over recent years to be at highest risk of poor outcome from influenza and often have the poorest response to standard dose non-adjuvanted vaccines.|
|2.||65-75||More vulnerable to severe disease following influenza because of underlying medical condition and to benefit from a TIV|
|3.||65 to 74 year olds NOT in a clinical risk group||Increased age elevates the risk of poor outcomes following infection with influenza aTIV is the recommended vaccine.|