You may have seen a few updates from me about our first flu clinics for the younger and older members of our community. We’ve had a few queries over the last week from people asking about availability for other groups, so we wanted to give you an update.
More Vaccines
Firstly, eligibility for free NHS flu vaccines has increased considerably this year. This is intended to reduce the seasonal pressures the NHS typically experiences during Winter, amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
I would strongly encourage everyone who is eligible for a free NHS flu jab to get vaccinated and help protect themselves, their family and the NHS.
In all cases where patients are invited to book appointments, this can be done by calling us on 0191 281 4588. Our phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8:15 am to 6 pm.
The Current Situation
- Children aged 2-3: We’ve held two clinics so far. You can still make an appointment for your child if we’ve written to you.
- Those at high risk aged up to 18: As above, we’ve held clinics and if we’ve sent you a letter, you can make an appointment.
- School-aged children: Eligibility has increased to include Year 7. These vaccinations will be done directly through your child’s school, not through us. If your child is in a high-risk group, they are covered by the above point and will have been sent a letter.
- People aged 65 and over: Our clinics scheduled for the next two Saturdays are now both full. These clinics are appointment only, so please don’t come if you haven’t booked. You will still be able to get vaccinated at another time – please call us to book an appointment.
- High-risk adults: This includes people with long term health conditions and pregnant women. You will be written to and invited to make an appointment once we have these vaccines available.
As part of the extended eligibility, people aged 50-64 without long term conditions can also get an NHS flu vaccination. This will be based on availability, and we hope to have more details on this in the coming weeks