FLU VACCINATIONS 2023-24

Posted by: rebeccagolder - Posted on:

The following groups will be eligible for the free flu vaccine this Autumn:

  • those aged 65 years and over
  • those aged six months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book, chapter 19 (Influenza))
  • pregnant women
  • all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023
  • primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
  • all secondary school pupils in Years 7 to 11
  • those in long-stay residential care homes
  • carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
  • close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
  • frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants

Flu clinics will held on:

  • (These are appointment only clinics, no walk-ins)
  • Friday 15th September                    9am to 12pm            2pm to 4pm
  • Saturday 16th September              9am to 1pm
  • Friday 22nd September                    9am to 12pm            2pm to 4pm
  • Saturday 23th September              9am to 1pm
  • Friday 29th September                     9am to 12pm            2pm to 4pm
  • Saturday 30th September                9am to 1pm
  • Friday 6th October                            9am to 12pm            2pm to 4pm
  • Saturday 7th October                      9am to 1pm

THESE ARE CO-ADMINSTRATION CLINICS

When you come in for your vaccination, you WILL be offered the Covid-19 Autumn 2023 booster vaccination, vaccine availability dependant.

If you haven’t booked your flu appointment, we still have appointments available.

To book an appointment:

  • Eligible patients that we have a mobile number for, will be sent a text invitation with a self-book link.
  • Eligible patients that we do not have a mobile number for, will be sent a barcoded letter and invited to call the surgery to book an appointment.
  • Call the surgery but be patient as our lines are already extremely busy.

NOTE:  you may not be seen at your booked appointment time.  Be prepared for a short wait.

Housebound Patients

Alison and Rebecca, our Health Care Assistants, will be visiting our housebound patients to administer the flu vaccine and the Covid-19 Autumn 2023 booster. We will contact our housebound patients so there is no need to call us.

Please bear with us as we have over 220 housebound patients to visit.

Covid-19 Autumn 2023 Booster

All eligible patients will also receive an invitation for the Covid-19 Autumn 2023 booster from NHS England to book their booster appt via the NHS National Booking Service:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/covid-19-services/covid-19-vaccination-services/book-covid-19-vaccination/

This is live from Monday 11th September.

This is an ALTERNATIVE option if you do not want your vaccination at London Lane Clinic.

Please DO NOT CALL US to book these appointments as London Lane Clinic cannot book you in for external provider appts.

Flu Clinic Procedure

  • We will be operating a marshalled queuing one way system.
  • Arrive as close to your booked appointment time as possible BUT you may not be seen at your booked appointment time.  Be prepared for a short wait.  We have timings so that we can ensure that we have sufficient flu vaccine stock for each clinic and to help with queue management so they do move as quickly as possible.  It is not a walk-in clinic.
  • On arrival you will be given a personalised barcode letter to give to your vaccinator.
  • Wear suitable clothes appropriate for the weather for the day you attend and so you can easily expose one of your shoulders.
  • If possible, arrive by foot, as the car park will be closed except to disabled patients

For further information about national flu vaccination programme  : www.nhs.uk/flujab

Children’s flu appointments :

Flu vaccinations are also offered by the practice to all children who are two or three years of age on 31st August 2023.

They receive a nasal spray vaccine called Fluenz Tetra which is painless and easy to give. 

All children under the age of 18 who are in an “At Risk” group ie with a chronic disease are also given this vaccine. 

Dedicated children’s flu clinic appointments are available to book.

For information about the children’s flu vaccination, visit www.nhs.uk/child-flu

Schools vaccination programme:

This autumn term all primary school aged children in England (from Reception class to Year 6) and all secondary school pupils in years 7 to 11 will be offered a flu vaccination by the NHS school aged immunisation service.   This will be administered as a nasal spray starting in September. These vaccinations are offered and given at school rather than the surgery. 

The schools programme includes children who are “At Risk” but parents can still choose to have their vaccination at the surgery if they miss the session at school, if the school session is late in the season, or if the parents prefer it.

Free flu vaccines for secondary school kids – Department of Health and Social Care Media Centre (blog.gov.uk)

Volunteers required:

We cannot run these clinics without support of wonderful volunteers.  If you can spare a few hours and help with marshalling, then please contact Rebecca at [email protected].