Flu Vaccination Information 2023-2024

We will be offering a flu vaccination to all of our eligible patients this year and will be running our clinics to ensure that we follow current COVID guidelines.

Our flu stock is currently scheduled to be delivered w/c 2nd October 2023, but this is yet to be confirmed by our supplier. If delivery is on schedule our first Saturday clinics will be held on Saturday 7th October and will continue throughout October and November. As soon as delivery dates are confirmed we will open the appointments to be booked.

We will be giving flu vaccines at all our care homes and to our housebound patients and will schedule these around both our stock and staff availability.

We will text our eligible patients, put up posters in our windows, update our website and Facebook page as soon as appointments are available to be booked.

Appointments will be bookable using the AskFirst app which is quick, easy, available 24/7 and doesn’t require you to telephone us. If you don’t have access to the app you can download it by visiting sensely.com/askfirst.

We appreciate that not all patients will be able to use the app, so patients can telephone or visit our reception teams to book an appointment.

The clinics will be busy and will be flu vaccinations only. We won’t be offering any other services during the clinics and will be unable to deal with other queries. It’s very important that we keep the patient flow moving.

There will be a COVID vaccination booster programme happening during the autumn running alongside the flu vaccines. These COVID booster vaccines will be given at Oakfield Surgery by our local team. As soon as the operational arrangements are confirmed, we will share further information. GP Practices running their own flu clinics due to differing delivery dates.

Things to remember:

  • Please book an appointment. These aren’t walk in clinics
  • We continue to follow the NHS England Infection Control Guidance so will be wearing PPE and asking you to queue safely distanced.
  • If you able to walk to the surgery that is a great help, as there is limited car parking and the clinics will be busy.
  • You may need to queue outside so please come prepared for the weather.
  • We will be operating a one way system.
  • We will check you off on our appointment lists as you arrive and will be safety checking everyone for COVID.
  • Please wear a mask and lose clothing that is easily removed to give access to your upper arm.
  • We ask that additional family members who are not coming for an appointment wait outside whilst you receive your vaccination

We look forward to seeing you soon!

In 2023 to 2024, influenza vaccinations will be offered under the NHS influenza immunisation programme to the following groups:

The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to adults who:

  • are 65 and over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2024)
  • have certain health conditions
  • are pregnant
  • are in long-stay residential care
  • receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
  • live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system, such as someone living with HIV, someone who has had a transplant, or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
  • are frontline health workers
  • are social care workers who cannot get the vaccine through an occupational health scheme at work

More information can be found at NHS: Flu Vaccine.

Childrens Flu Vaccinations

We will also be running clinics offering eligible children flu vaccinations as soon as stock is released for delivery.

The nasal spray flu vaccine is free on the NHS for:

  • children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023 (born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021)
  • all primary school children (Reception to Year 6) -these will be administered at school
  • some secondary school aged children ( year 7 to year 11)
  • children aged 2 to 17 years with long-term health conditions

If your child is aged between 6 months and 2 years and has a long-term health condition that makes them at higher risk from flu, they’ll be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray.

This is because the nasal spray is not licensed for children under 2 years old.

More information can be found at NHS: Child Flu Vaccine.