Influenza, or 'flu', is a highly contagious acute viral infection that affects people of all ages. It typically starts suddenly with fever, chills, headache, aching muscles, general prostration and a cough or other respiratory symptoms. While most people recover without complications in 1-2 weeks, flu can cause serious illness and death, especially in the very young and the elderly. Flu epidemics occur mainly in the winter months and can result in widespread disruption to healthcare and other services. A vaccine is produced every year based on the strains of virus expected to be circulating.
Flu Clinic
Appointments for our annual flu clinics are now available.
We are currently running clinics on the following dates on:
- Wednesday 4th October 2023 (Stormybrook Surgery – Afternoon clinic)
- Wednesday 18th October 2023 (Stormybrook Surgery – Afternoon clinic)
- Saturday 21st October 2023 (North Cornelly Surgery – Morning clinic)
Eligibility
Flu vaccines are available for:
- Patients aged 65 years and over.
- Patients aged 18-64 who are ‘at risk’. This includes:
- Pregnant women
- Carers (including unpaid carers)
- Patients under 64 with a long-term health condition including:
- Chronic Respiratory disease (e.g. COPD, Asthma)
- Chronic Heart Disease
- Chronic Kidney Disease at stage 3, 4 or 5
- Chronic Liver Disease
- Chronic neurological disease such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone
disease
- Learning Disability
- Severe mental illness
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Immunosuppression (due to diseases such as HIV/AIDS or cancer treatment
(as well as household contact of at-risk individuals)
- Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
- Those morbid obese (BMI of 40 or above)
At the moment, 50 - 64 year-olds (who are not ‘at risk’) are not eligible but we will let you know if that changes.
Covid
We are also providing the Covid booster this year to the following patients:
- Patients aged 65 years and over.
- Patients aged 18-64 who are clinically vulnerable - including those who have any of the following conditions:
- Chronic Respiratory disease (e.g. COPD, Asthma)
- Chronic Heart Disease
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Liver Disease
- Chronic neurological disease
- Endocrine disorders – including diabetes
- Immunosuppression
- Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
- Serious genetic abnormalities that affect a number of systems; and
- Pregnant women
Covid vaccines will be administered during our flu clinics (dates as above).
Fluenz (Children)
A Fluenz clinic will be held on Wednesday 25th October 2023 in Stormybrook Surgery (Afternoon clinic).
Children are eligible for the fluenz vaccine if they are aged 2 and 3 on 31st August 2023.
Please contact the surgery to make an appointment.