SEASONAL VACCINATIONS 2024/2025

Flu & Covid Vaccinations

We will soon be booking Flu and Covid vaccinations in for clinics in October. We will only be booking covid vaccinations for eligible patients aged over 18years old.

The NHS winter flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme provides vital protection to those eligible and their families over winter, keeping people from developing serious illnesses, and helping to minimise hospitalisations during busy winter months.

NHS England has changed the Flu contract this year and this does not allow health organisations to start giving flu vaccines to the majority of eligible patients until the start of October, we would usually start as soon as we receive the vaccine in September.

Research shows better vaccine efficacy over the most flu-prolific months when given slightly later. We are currently organising our flu vaccination clinics and will contact eligible patients shortly with details of how to arrange appointments.

We reccomend to get your Flu and Covid vaccination at the same time. 

This means you only have to make one trip to the surgery. 

Studies conducted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic supported the safety of getting a flu vaccine and at the same visit. For example, one CDC study showed that people who got a flu vaccine and COVID-19 monovalent vaccine at the same time were slightly more likely to have reactions including fatigue, headache, and muscle ache than people who only got a COVID-19 monovalent vaccine, but those reactions were mostly mild and went away quickly

COVID-19 vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Eligibility for the Flu and Covid Vaccination 2024

• Aged 65 or over.
• Have certain long-term health conditions (in clinical risk groups).
• Pregnant.
• Care home Residents.
• Frontline health and social care workers.

FLU Only (no longer eligible for Covid Vaccination Autumn 2024 

• Are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance.
• Live with someone who has a weakened immune system. 

Under 18years Flu vaccination 

We are stating to book Under 18s (Nasal Flu) vaccination in at the surgery. Please contact main reception to book. We will not be vaccinating under 18years olds for Covid at Honiton surgery. 

Invitations

We will be sending self-booking links via SMS/email to thoose who have access to smartphones and calling patients directly who do not have access to smartphone. 

Schedlued Clinics 

Our 'Season Vaccination Clinics' for Covid and Flu vaccinations will start Friday 4th October 2024. These will be most Fridays in October and Saturday 5th October.

We will set up additional and 'mop up' clinics in November and December. 

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination Programme

From 1 September 2024, those who turn 75 and those aged 75 to 79 will be eligible for a free vaccine to protect them from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This is separate and in addition to the winter flu and COVID vaccination programmes.

RSV is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs. RSV infection often causes symptoms like a cold, including:

• cough
• sore throat
• sneezing
• a 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 sadly die from it. RSV can be more severe in people with medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system.

RSV infection is also common in young children but is most serious for small babies and for older people.

For more information about the RSV vaccine, side effects and the programme please visit:

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Eligibility for the RSV vaccination

The vaccine will be available to pregnant women at week 28 or later and everyone aged 75 to 79 or turning 75 years old on or after 1 September 2024. Eligible patients will be offered a single dose of RSV vaccine. This is because older adults and pregnant patients are more at risk of serious complications from RSV. You can still get the vaccine up to the day before you turn 80.

Invitations

The surgery will contact you if you’re eligible for RSV. 

This will most likely be a self-booking link via SMS to thoose who have access to smartphones and call patients directly who do not have access to smartphone.