COVID BOOSTER CAMPAIGN 2024
We are still waiting for information regarding who will be offered a covid booster this winter. We will update you as soon as we know.
ANNUAL INFLUENZA PROGRAMME
This year the Department of Health have made some changes to the adult annual flu programme to start later from October 2024. This is because vaccination effectiveness in adults wanes over time and so vaccinating in Oct/Nov will provide optimal protection during the highest-risk period, typically December or January
Flu vaccine is for:
- Everyone 65 years and over (and anyone who will become 65 years old by 31st March 2025)
- Anyone 6 months - <65 years who is in a clinical risk group (see details below)
- All pregnant women (available from 1st September)
- Children 2 years up to year 11 in school (available from mid/end Sept)
NB The practice ONLY administer Flu vaccines to:
- children in clinical risk groups (see details below)
- 2 or 3 years on 31st August 2024 (Pre-school age)
We will be contacting everyone who is eligible in stages but if you have not heard from us by mid October, please to call to book your appointment
Clinical risk groups
- chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as asthma (that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic bronchitis
- chronic heart disease and vascular disease
- chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5
- chronic liver disease
- chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s disease or motor neurone disease
- learning disability
- diabetes and adrenal insufficiency
- asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
- a weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as for cancer) *see below *
- morbidly obese adults (aged from 16 years) with a BMI of 40kg/m2 and above
- household contacts of immunocompromised individuals, specifically individuals who expect to share living accommodation on most days over the winter and, therefore, for whom continuing close contact is unavoidable
- people living in long-stay residential care homes or other long-stay care facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of infection and cause high morbidity and mortality. This does not include, for instance, prisons, young offender institutions, university halls of residence or boarding schools
- carers: those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or who are the main Carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the Carer falls ill
*You may be immunosuppressed; ⎯ If you are having - Chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy ⎯ If you are taking medication - Immunosuppressive or immunomodulating biological therapy, protein kinase or PARP inhibitors and steroid sparing agents – i.e. cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil or have been taking Steroids for more than a month. ⎯ If you have had - An organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant. ⎯ If you have been told you have - HIV, multiple myeloma, leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, lupus, or a genetic disorder which affects the immune system.
*Please speak to your GP, Practice Nurse or Consultant if you are unsure if you need a flu vaccine
Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV
*New Vaccine starting in September*
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes hundreds of thousands of infections across the UK each winter in the young and the old. It is a common cause of respiratory tract infections which usually causes a mild self-limiting respiratory infection but can be severe in infants and older adults who are at increased risk of acute lower respiratory tract infection. Babies and children under 1years are at increased risk of complications from RSV which can cause Bronchiolitis and hospital admission.
Vaccines have now been developed which have been rigorously tested for safety and efficacy and will be introduced from 1st September 2024 into the UK schedule:
- through the routine offer of a single dose at age 75 years and the catch-up programme (of 75 to 79 year olds) which will help protect eligible older adults, particularly if given before winter RSV activity
- Vaccination for all pregnant women at 28weeks of pregnancy will ensure protection for new born babies
We will be inviting eligible patients for vaccination in September ahead of the flu programme as It is not recommended to have the RSV vaccine at the same time as a flu or covid vaccine, however it can be given at the same time as a shingles or Pneumonia vaccine.