Flu/RSV Vaccination information

Flu Vaccination Programme 2024

 

There are some changes to the Flu vaccination programme this year.  This will be offered out in 2 groups.

From 1 September 2024, the vaccination will be offered out by the GP practice to:

  • pregnant women
  • all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
  • all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years

Please note - primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6) & secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11) will be offered this through the school nursing programme.  The GP practice can only offer to these age groups if they are in a clinical risk group, for example, asthmatic, diabetic etc.

From 3 October 2024, the GP practice will offer the vaccination to:

  • those aged 65 years and over
  • those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups 
  • 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

We will be contacting eligible patients from August 2024 to offer the vaccine.

For more information click - Flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)


Published on 6th Aug 2024

 

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine for pregnant women and 75-79 year olds

 

What is RSV?

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs. RSV infection often causes symptoms similar to a cold, including cough, sore throat, sneezing and runny or blocked nose. It can also make you become wheezy or short of breath and lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions. There is no specific treatment, and most infections will get better by themselves. Every year thousands of older adults need hospital care for RSV, and some of them will die. RSV can be more severe in people with medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system. RSV infection is common in young children but is most serious for small babies and for older people

From 1st September 2024, NHS England have introduced a RSV vaccine.

Almost all older adults will have had several RSV infections during their life. A single dose of vaccine will help to boost protection as you reach an age group at highest risk of serious RSV infection. 

For pregnant women, the vaccine will be offered on or after they are 28 weeks pregnant.  

Please see leaflet for more information:

RSV vaccine and pregnancy leaflet

RSV vaccine for older adults


Published on 6th Aug 2024

A cold is a mild viral infection of the nose, throat, sinuses and upper airways. It can cause nasal stuffiness, a runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat and a cough. Usually it's a self-limiting infection – this means it gets better by itself without the need for treatment.

On average, adults have two to five colds each year and school-age children can have up to eight colds a year. Adults who come into contact with children tend to get more colds. This is because children usually carry more of the virus, for longer.

In the UK, you’re more likely to get a cold during the winter months although the reasons why aren’t fully understood at present.

Treatment of a cold

For most people, a cold will get better on its own within a week of the symptoms starting without any specific treatment. However, there are treatments that can help to ease your symptoms and make you feel more comfortable. These are available from your pharmacy, which means that you can treat yourself, rather than needing to see your GP.

There is no cure for colds. Antibiotics, which treat infections caused by bacteria, don't work on cold viruses.

Self-help

There are a number of self-help measures that may help to ease the symptoms of a cold.

  • Drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration.
  • Steam inhalations with menthol, salt water nasal sprays or drops may be helpful.
  • Vapour rubs may help relieve symptoms for children.
  • Hot drinks (particularly with lemon), hot soups and spicy foods can help to ease irritation and pain in your throat.
  • Sucking sweets or lozenges which contain menthol or eucalyptus may sooth your throat.
  • Gargling with salt water may help a sore throat.

You should try to make sure you get enough rest if you have a cold. It’s not usually necessary to stay off work or school.

Colds & Flu
A factsheet on the causes, symptoms, treatment & prevention of colds & the flu

NHS - is it the common cold or the flu?
Colds and flu can share some of the same symptoms (sneezing, coughing, sore throat) but are caused by different viruses, and flu can be much more serious. Find out

Factsheet - Common Cold
Information about the diagnosis, treatment and symptoms of the common cold