Flu & Pneumococcal Immunisation

At our surgery, we prioritise the health and well-being of our patients, which is why we strongly encourage all eligible individuals to take advantage of this opportunity and get their flu vaccine.

Who Is At Risk?

  • If you are aged 65 years or over or if you are on regular inhaled steroids
  • If you have a chronic respiratory disease (including asthma)
  • If you have chronic heart disease
  • If you have chronic renal disease
  • If you are diabetic
  • If you have a weak immune system
  • If you live in a long-stay residential or nursing home
  • If you have a chronic liver disease
  • If you are a carer
Those in clinical risk groups are individuals who have certain medical conditions or characteristics that put them at higher risk of experiencing severe illness or complications if they contract a flu-related illness. The following are some examples of conditions or characteristics that make someone fall into a clinical risk group:
– respiratory conditions, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and bronchitis
– diabetes
– heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
– being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above
– chronic kidney disease
– liver disease, such as hepatitis
– some neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or cerebral palsy
– a learning disability
– problems with your spleen like sickle cell disease, or if you’ve had your spleen removed
– a weakened immune system as a result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or taking medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
Everybody aged 65 and over should be immunised to help protect them against pneumococcal infection which can cause diseases such as pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and meningitis.

Please phone the practice to make an appointment if the above applies to you.
Once our appointments become available for booking, all eligible patients will receive invitations.

For adults over 18 years:
You will either receive invitations via text message or a letter if we don’t have your mobile phone number. Due to the large volume of invitations to be sent, they will be staggered throughout August and September. Therefore, it is possible that you may not receive an invitation at the same time as someone else that you know. However, you don’t have to wait for an invitation to book your appointment.

For children under 18 years:
Parents or guardians will either receive invitations via text message or a letter if we don’t have your mobile phone number. However, you don’t have to wait for an invitation to book your child’s appointment.
Patients who have provided us with their mobile phone number, whether they are adults or children, will receive a text message invitation containing a link to schedule an appointment. This link can only be accessed on smartphones with internet capabilities and will remain valid for a period of 7 days from the time it is sent. By utilising this link, you can book an appointment date and time that suits your schedule without having to contact the surgery directly.

If you are unable to use the link, you receive an invitation by letter, or you are yet to receive your invite, there are alternative ways to book your appointment. One option is to use online services like the NHS App, but this requires prior registration.

Please ensure that you book an appointment for the appropriate age group, as failure to do so may result in cancellation of your appointment. Alternatively, you can call the practice directly to book your appointment.
Our ability to provide home visits is limited to patients who are unable to leave their homes in any circumstances. If you can leave your house for appointments or events, with the help of a family member, friend, or neighbour, or if you have been to our surgery for another appointment recently, we regret to inform you that we are unable to visit you. In such cases, we kindly request that you schedule an appointment at one of our clinics, where designated disabled parking and drop-off options are available for our frail patients.

If you are a housebound patient registered with us, in September/October, you will be contacted by staff from ESPN. They will allow you ample time to make arrangements for any required access or family members to be present during the visit.