Seasonal Vaccinations – Autumn 2024

The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from Flu.

It’s offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter.

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:

• are aged 65 or over
• have certain long-term health conditions
• are pregnant
• live in a care home
• are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
• live with someone who has a weakened immune system

Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.

We always advise booking as soon as possible to ensure good availability.

As per previous years, our Flu clinics are only available to patients who are eligible and have pre-booked an appointment. We are unable to accept walk-in patients so please ensure you have an appointment before visiting us!

If you’re invited in, here is how to book:

• Use the NHS App or SystmOnline to book into your clinic (Check which eligibility group and site you are booking as you confirm)
• Click the link in your invite message to book straight in for appointment (Check which site you are booking as you confirm)
• Call our Vaccination Line between 10am – 12pm from Monday to Friday on 01752 209040

Important things to note about appointments

• Please ensure you book the right type of clinic, at the right surgery site. If the wrong clinic is booked we cannot guarantee availability to move you to the right session and we will likely be unable to offer a vaccination
• We are unable to guarantee any named clinician, and you may see a different member of our team on the day
• Clinics are subject to supply and other logistical issues

If you would like to know more about the Flu vaccine for adults you can visit the NHS website for details

Some of the questions about Flu Vaccinations that we hear the most:

Will the vaccine give me the flu?

No, the injected flu vaccines used in the UK do not contain live flu viruses. They cannot give you flu.

You may experience side effects of the flu vaccine, however the most common side effects of the flu vaccine are mild and get better within 1 to 2 days.

Side effects can can include:

• pain or soreness where the injection was given
• a slightly raised temperature
• an aching body

More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are very rare. They also usually show up very quickly, and the person who vaccinates you is trained to deal with allergic reactions and will act immediately.

Will you be hosting a big weekend clinic again this year?

Yes Saturday 5th October!

I declined last year, can I still have it this year?

Of course! We invite eligible patients each year unless you tell us not to, so you will receive your invite from us when it’s your turn.

Can I get it somewhere else?

Most likely, other services are available as well as private paid for services, however we are unable to recommend or suggest external services. We always advise having your vaccine through the surgery to ensure continuity of care but it is ultimately your choice where to have your vaccination. We strictly must ensure you do not end up having two of the same vaccination though so you must make sure that if you attend a vaccination elsewhere you do not also accept your invite from the practice.

Will it take long?

The process usually only takes a few minutes but delays are always possible. Over the past few years our most consistent feedback is how fast and efficient our flu clinics are, so we hope it will be the same this year! Your appointment shouldn’t take long, your clinician will ask a few questions, get you ready and give you the jab, you’ll then be sent on your way while we get your record updated.

Can I have my COVID and Shingles jabs done at the same time?

Yes, sometimes we may advise if this isn’t a good idea depending on your situation, but you can usually have the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines such as the COVID-19 vaccine and shingles vaccine.

Can I have the vaccine if I am unwell?

It’s better not to, if you have a high temperature, wait until you’re feeling better before having your flu vaccine. This also helps protect our clinical team and other patients. If you aren’t feeling well and need to reschedule, contact us to cancel or move your appointment as soon as you can, this helps us give your appointment to someone else, and hopefully find another appointment for you.

The children’s flu vaccine is offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter.

It’s recommended for:

• children aged 2 or 3 years
• school-aged children (Reception to Year 11)
• children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions

Nasal Spray Vaccinations: Children aged 2 or 3:

Invites have been sent out to those with parental responsibility for children to book in for the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine, if you haven’t received an invite, please contact our Vaccination Line.

Please follow the instructions provided in the invite from the practice to book an appointment, or call our Vaccination Line between 10am – 12pm from Monday to Friday on 01752 209040. (We are unable to take flu bookings on our main number)

6 Month to 2 Years and at higher risk:

If your child is aged between 6 months and 2 years and has a long-term health condition that makes them at higher risk from flu, they’ll be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray. This is because the nasal spray is not licensed for children under 2 years old.

If you have parental responsibility for a child who is considered to be ‘at risk’ you should be contacted directly by the end of September. If you have not been contacted and think your child is in this eligibility group, please contact the surgery. Vaccines for this group need to be individually ordered by patient.

Please call our Vaccination Line between 10am – 12pm from Monday to Friday on 01752 209040. (We are unable to take flu bookings on our main number)

School Aged Children and Young People:

Vaccination for Primary School aged children will be provided by The School and Community Immunisation Programme, run by Kernow Health, who provide all school immunisations (this includes those in home education and missed school immunisation dates).

They hold regular community clinics in Plymouth for vaccinations. Vaccinations usually provided by Kernow Health cannot be given by the practice unless in special circumstances, such as certain long-term health conditions, this can be requested by Kernow Health.

If you have questions about school immunisations please contact Kernow Health: www.kernowhealthcic.org.uk/primary-care-services/school-age-immunisation/

If you would like to know more about the Flu vaccine for Children and Young People you can visit the NHS website for details

So far, we know if you are over 65 and have not had COVID booster within the last 3 months, you will be eligible for a COVID booster. For patients within the 18-65 At-Risk cohort, we are still waiting for more information about eligibility so please wait for your invite.

There has been limited national guidance about COVID eligibility, we will update this page as soon as we know more.

Eligible groups this autumn

• adults aged 65 years and over
• residents in a care home for older adults
• individuals aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group (as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)
• frontline NHS and social care workers, and those working in care homes for older people

The eligibility is the same across the 4 nations of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

The vaccine should usually be offered no earlier than around 6 months after the last vaccine dose. If you are eligible, you can get protection from an autumn COVID-19 vaccination even if you have not taken up a COVID-19 vaccine offer in the past.

We are sending out invites to people we *think* will be eligible and doing alongside flu. When guidance is issued we may need to adjust the invites. If the guidance on the day says you are not eligible we cannot change or override that it is set nationally.

Information about COVID-19 vaccinations including safety and side effects is available on the NHS Website

You’ll be able to get the vaccine if:

• you’re aged 75 to 79
• you’re 28 weeks pregnant or more – this will help protect your baby for the first few months after they’re born

• If you’re aged 75 to 79, we will contact you about getting vaccinated. Please wait to be contacted.
• If you’re 28 weeks pregnant or more, from September, you can contact us about getting your RSV vaccination

Information about RSV and vaccination is available on the NHS Website