Flu & COVID Vaccine 2024/25 Information

FLU & COVID-19 WINTER BOOSTER APPOINTMENTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! Including our Saturday clinics on: Saturday 5^th October & Saturday 26^th October 2024

Please read the appropriate sections within this page BEFORE you arrange your free Flu and COVID-19 Winter Booster vaccination appointment at Blackthorn Health Centre.

This year, as well as the annual Flu vaccine, eligible Blackthorn Health Centre patients will also be offered a COVID-19 Winter Booster vaccine during the Saturday Flu Clinics only*.

Outside of these clinics, COVID-19 vaccine appointments need to be arranged via NHS 119. Please note, that the COVID-19 vaccines can no longer be booked through Blackthorn Health Centre.

_{*Delivery of COVID-19 vaccines is dependent on the COVID-19 vaccine supply from NHS England}

If you would NOT like to have either the Flu and / or the COVID-19 vaccination, please advise us via our Vaccines Enquiry form.

Page Last Updated: Wednesday 28th August 2024

Please refer to the appropriate section below for guidance as to obtaining your Flu and COVID-19 Winter Booster vaccinations.

Adults 65+ years old (DOB: on or before 31/03/1959)

Adults 18-64 years old in a Clinical Risk Group (DOB: 01/04/1959 – 18 years old at the time of the appointment)

Adults 50-64 years old NOT in a Clinical Risk Group (DOB: 01/04/1959 – 31/03/1974)

Children 2-3 years old (DOB: 01/09/2019 – 31/08/2021)

Children 6months-17 years old in a Clinical Risk Group (Age 6months-17 years old at the time of the appointment)

Primary School-Aged Children NOT in a Clinical Risk Group (from Reception to Year 6)

Secondary School-Aged Children NOT in a Clinical Risk Group (from Year 7 upwards)

Adults 65+ years old (DOB: on or before 31/03/1960)

Patients aged 65+ years or older or whose 65^th birthday is on or before Friday 31^st March 2025, can now book a 'FLU JAB Adult' appointment. These appointments can be booked:

Via a Patient Online Services platform, such as the NHS App (an account is required)
Via a booking link sent via SMS (these will be sent out to all patients with a mobile number on our system over the coming weeks). Please wait until W/C Monday 23rd September 2024 to chase if you have not received an SMS invite
Via Telephone or in-person – call reception on 023 8045 3110 any weekday between 10:00 - 18:30

Eligible patients who have booked in for a Flu vaccination will also be given a COVID-19 Winter Booster vaccination at the same appointment. This is as long as there are more than 91 days since your last COVID-19 vaccine or as long as you have not had COVID-19 in the last 28 days.

If you are registered as a housebound patient with the practice, you will be contacted with a date for your visit. If you have not heard from us by Friday 18^th October 2024, please inform us via our Vaccines Enquiry form.

Our appointments are initally limited to the Saturday clinics listed above. Please book a date and time which is most convenient to you. Appointments usually book quickly, so the earlier you are able to book the more choice that will be available.

If you are not able to attend any of the clinics at the practice, please contact a local Pharmacy / Chemist to arrange your Flu vaccine and NHS 119 to arrange your COVID-19 vaccine.

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Adults 18-64 years old in a Clinical Risk Group (DOB: 01/04/1960 – 18 years old at the time of the appointment)

Patients aged 18 to 64 years old (and who will not turn 65 years old by Friday 31^st March 2025), must be in a clinical risk group* as stated below to be eligible for a Flu vaccine at the practice:

Chronic respiratory disease – If this is Asthma you must take continuous or repeated inhaled or systemic steroids or have had previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission to be eligible.
Chronic heart disease
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic liver disease
Chronic neurological disease
Diabetes
Immunosuppression – including any household members
Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
Morbid obesity – Adults with a BMI ≥40 kg/m²
Pregnant women
Learning disability
Carers
Frontline health or social care staff without employer-led occupational health schemes

_{*the full clinical risk group criteria can be found HERE.}

These patients can now book a ‘FLU JAB Adult’ appointment.

These appointments can be booked:

Via a Patient Online Services platform, such as the NHS App (an account is required)
Via a booking link sent via SMS (these will be sent out to all patients with a mobile number on our system over the coming weeks). Please wait until W/C Monday 23rd September 2024 to chase if you have not received an SMS invite
Via Telephone or in-person – call reception on 023 8045 3110 any weekday between 10:00 - 18:30

If an appointment is arranged and our records do not reflect that you are in a clinical at-risk group, you will be contacted to clarify your appointment. This may result in your appointment being cancelled.

If you are not able to attend any of the clinics at the practice, please contact a local Pharmacy / Chemist to arrange your Flu vaccine and NHS 119 to arrange your COVID-19 vaccine.

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Adults 50-64 years old NOT in a Clinical Risk Group (DOB: 01/04/1960 – 31/03/1975)

Patients aged 50 to 64 years or older or whose 50^th birthday is on or before Friday 31^st March 2025 and are NOT in a Clinical Risk Group*, are not eligible this year for either the Flu or COVID-19 Winter Booster vaccination.

_{*the full clinical risk group criteria can be found HERE.}

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Children 2-3 years old (DOB: 01/09/2019 – 31/08/2021)

Children aged 2 or 3 years as of Saturday 31^st August 2024 are eligible for a Flu nasal vaccine.

Appointments will be available from September 2024 and are NOT yet available to be booked. Once they are available, text messages will be sent to all patients with a mobile number on record, and letters will be sent to the remaining patients.

These appointments will be available to be booked:

Via Telephone or in-person – call reception on 023 8045 3110 any weekday between 10:00 - 18:30
Via a booking link sent via SMS (these will be sent out to all patients with a mobile number on our system over the coming weeks). Please wait until W/C Monday 23rd September 2024 to chase if you have not received an SMS invite

If you are not able to attend any of the clinics at the practice, please contact a local Pharmacy / Chemist to arrange this Flu vaccine.

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Children 6months-17 years old in a Clinical Risk Group (Age 6months-17 years old at the time of the appointment)

Patients aged 6 months to 17 years old, must be in a clinical risk group* as stated below to be eligible for a Flu nasal vaccine at the practice:

Chronic respiratory disease – If this is Asthma you must take continuous or repeated inhaled or systemic steroids or have had previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission to be eligible.
Chronic heart disease
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic liver disease
Chronic neurological disease
Diabetes
Immunosuppression – including any household members
Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
Morbid obesity – Adults with a BMI ≥40 kg/m²
Pregnant women
Learning disability
Carers
Frontline health or social care staff without employer-led occupational health schemes

_{*the full clinical risk group criteria can be found HERE.}

These appointments will be available to be booked:

Via Telephone or in-person – call reception on 023 8045 3110 any weekday between 10:00 - 18:30
Via a booking link sent via SMS (these will be sent out to all patients with a mobile number on our system over the coming weeks). Please wait until W/C Monday 23rd September 2024 to chase if you have not received an SMS invite

If your child is of school age, the flu vaccination will be offered to them via the school programme. If your child is unable to have the vaccine at school, you can arrange an appointment at the practice when they are available.

If your child is home-schooled you can arrange for the flu vaccine to be administered at the practice or via the school nursing team (Southern Parishes School Nurses). This appointment can be arranged by calling 023 8047 5221.

If you are not able to attend any of the clinics at the practice and your child is not of school age, please contact a local Pharmacy / Chemist to arrange this Flu vaccine.

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Primary School-Aged Children NOT in a Clinical Risk Group (from Reception to Year 6)

All patients who are of Primary School age (from Reception to Year 6) on Friday 1^st September 2024 will receive a Flu nasal vaccine via the school nursing team (Southern Parishes School Nurses). Each school will have their own schedule for this vaccine as well as a catch-up programme for those who miss the dates. Please contact your child’s school for more information on this.

If your child is home-schooled you can arrange for the flu vaccine to be administered via the school nursing team (Southern Parishes School Nurses). This appointment can be arranged by calling 023 8047 5221.

We are unable to offer any appointments to patients in this group at the practice.

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Secondary School-Aged Children NOT in a Clinical Risk Group (from Year 7 upwards)

All patients who are of Secondary School age (from Year 7 upwards) on Friday 1^st September 2024 and are NOT in a Clinical Risk Group*, are not eligible this year for the Flu vaccination.

_{*the full clinical risk group criteria can be found HERE.}

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