Flu & COVID Vaccine 2023/24 Information

FLU & COVID VACCINE APPOINTMENTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!

Including our Saturday clinics on: Saturday 30^th September, Saturday 14^th October & Saturday 28th October 2023

Please read the appropriate sections within this page BEFORE you arrange your free Flu vaccination appointment at Blackthorn Health Centre.

We welcome all our eligible Flu vaccination appointments to arrange for their vaccination to take place at Blackthorn Health Centre. Please be assured that we have ordered a large supply to cover our eligible patients. As a result, please do not feel pressurised to undertake your appointment at any other vaccine sites, such as Pharmacies and Supermarkets.

COVID VACCINE UPDATE: Patients eligible for the flu vaccine will also be eligible for the COVID Winter Booster vaccination, which will now be offered at Blackthorn Health Centre during both of the Practice's upcoming Saturday clinics only. If you are unable to attend either of these Saturday clinics or you do not wish to have the COVID vaccine at the same time as your Flu vaccine, you will need to arrange your COVID-19 Winter Booster via NHS 119. In addition, if you only wish to have the COVID-19 Winter Booster Vaccine, this must also be booked via NHS 119. Please note, that the COVID-19 Winter Booster vaccines cannot be arranged through Blackthorn Health Centre.

If you would NOT like to have the Flu vaccination, please advise us via our Vaccines Enquiry form. Please be advised that we are required to invite eligible patients for the flu vaccination each year, regardless as to whether you had previously declined this vaccination.

Page Last Updated: Friday 15th September 2023

Please refer to the appropriate section below for guidance as to obtaining your Flu vaccination.

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 31/03/1959)

Patients aged 65+ years or older or whose 65^th birthday is on or before Friday 31^st March 2023, 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 11^th September 2023 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 you are registered as a housebound patient with the practice, you will be contacted towards the end of September 2023 with a date for your visit. If you have not heard from us by Friday 13^th October 2023, please inform us via our Vaccines Enquiry form.

Our appointments are limited to the two 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.

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Adults 18-64 years old in a Clinical Risk Group (DOB: 01/04/1959 – 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 2024), 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 11^th September 2023 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 you are registered as a housebound patient with the practice, you will be contacted towards the end of September with a date for your visit. If you have not heard from us by Friday 13^th October 2023, please inform us via our Vaccines Enquiry form.

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.

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

Patients aged 50 to 64 years or older or whose 50^th birthday is on or before Friday 31^st March 2024 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 Wednesday 31^st August 2023 are eligible for a Flu nasal vaccine.

Appointments will be available from October 2023 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 18^th September 2023 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 18^th September 2023 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 in October 2023.

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 2023 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 2023 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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