COVID:  From Tuesday 1^st October 2024 we will be offering Covid Boosters to our patients.  Please note – This is a booster vaccination only.  Patients need to have completed the full initial immunisation course already but then this booster can be given regardless of how many other boosters have been received.  The vaccine we will be administering is called Comirnaty which is the Pfizer vaccine.  Please phone 0214503890 to make an appointment.

The following groups are recommended by NIAC for an autumn COVID-19 booster:

• Those aged 60 years and older
• Those aged 6 months – 59 years with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination
• Those aged 6 months – 59 years with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation, severe disease or death
• Those aged 18-59 years living in long term care facilities for older adults
• Health and care workers
• For pregnant adolescents and adults, a COVID-19 vaccine once in pregnancy is recommended if it is more than six months since their previous COVID-19 vaccine or infection. COVID-19 vaccine can be given at any stage in pregnancy, ideally given between 20-34 weeks’ gestation.
• Further, NIAC has advised that for those aged 18-59 years who are healthy a COVID-19 vaccine is not routinely recommended this autumn, however access to a COVID-19 vaccine should be available for those who, following discussion of their reasons with a health care provider (e.g., GP, pharmacist or vaccination centre), request vaccination.

Flu Vaccines

Influenza:  From Tuesday 1^st October 2024 we will be offering Flu Vaccines to our patients.

The following groups are eligible to receive flu vaccine without charge in 2024/25:

Those who:

• Are 60 years of age and over
• Are a child aged 2 to 17 years
• Are pregnant
• All those aged 6-23 months and 18-59 years at increased risk of influenza-related complications such as:
  • Those with chronic illness, e.g. chronic heart disease (including acute coronary syndrome), chronic liver disease, chronic neurological disease (where the neurological condition compromises clearance of respiratory secretions), chronic renal failure, chronic respiratory disease (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia), diabetes mellitus, or haemoglobinopathies
  • Those with immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including asplenia or hyposplenism, and all cancer patients
  • Those with any condition that can compromise respiratory function (e.g. spinal cord injury, seizure disorder, or other neuromuscular disorder especially those attending special schools/day centres)
  • Children and adults with Down syndrome
  • Children with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disability
  • Those with morbid obesity (Body mass index >40)
  • Children on long term aspirin therapy
• Residents of nursing homes, old people’s homes, and other long stay facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of infection
• Healthcare workers
• Household contacts of people with underlying chronic health conditions or Down syndrome
• Out-of-home care givers for people who have an underlying chronic health condition or have Down syndrome
• People in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl