Flu Vaccinations
Flu immunisations are available for anyone aged 65 and over; those considered “at risk” and children aged 2, 3 and 4. Follow this link for further information on the NHS website.
Flu Vaccines 2, 3 and 4 year olds 2018
The Department of Health have recommended that the seasonal flu programme should be extended to childres aged 2 – 17 years. This is in order to lower the impact of flu on children and lower flu transmission to other children, adults and those in clinical risk groups of any age.
Fluenz is the recommended vaccine; this is administered as a nasal spray and is given as a single dose. It is a live vaccine.
Please follow this link for further information on the NHS website.
Shingles Vaccine Programme 2018/2019
The incidence of shingles increases with age, the severity of symptoms increases as individuals get older. This is the second year of the shingles programme and is now being offered to a wider age range.
Shingles is a viral infection of the nerve cells that develops as a result of a chickenpox infection. Once a person has recovered from chickenpox the virus lies dormant in the nerve cells and can reactivate at a later stage when the immune system is weakened.
The purpose of the programme is to reduce both the incidence and severity of shingles disease in adults aged 70 to 78 years of age.
People turning 70 or 78 years of age on or after 1 April 2017 are eligible to have the vaccine. The vaccine is still recommended if a person has a previous history of shingles infection.
Follow this link to download an information leaflet about shingles.
To check if you fall into the eligibility cohort, click on the link below:
Shingles Calculator
The National Flu immunisation programme 2018/2019:
The following people are eligible for flu vaccination:
Those aged 65 years and over.
Those aged 6 months to under 65 in clinical risk groups as listed below:
- Pregnant women
- All 2, 3, and 4 year olds
- Those in long stay residential care home
- Carers registered with the practice
Risk groups 6 months to 65 years include:
- Chronic heart disease
- Chronic respiratory disease
- Chronic Kidney disease
- Chronic Liver disease
- Patients who are diabetic
- Patients with immunosuppression
- Patients with chronic degenerative neurological disease including:
- stroke
- TIA
- cerebral palsy
- MS
Pneumococcal Vaccinations:
This is a once only vaccine which is recommended for all patients over 65 years of age.
Patients over 2 years of age in a clinical risk group in whom there is an increased risk of morbidity or mortality from pneumococcal disease.
The risk groups are:
- History of a splenectomy
- Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment
- Chronic heart disease
- Chronic respiratory disease
- Chronic Kidney disease
- Chronic Liver disease
- Patients who are diabetic
- Patients with chronic degenerative neurological disease including:
- stroke
- TIA
- cerebral palsy
- MS
- Individuals with cochlear implants and individuals with cerebrospinal fluid leaks.
