Flu Vaccination Criteria and information

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Flu vaccinations are available every year on the NHS to help protect adults and children at risk of flu and its complications. Flu can be unpleasant, but if you are otherwise healthy it will usually clear up on its own within a week. However, flu can be more severe in certain people, such as:

• Those aged 65 years and over
• All children aged two to nine (but not ten years or older) on 31 August 2018
• All primary school-aged children in former primary school pilot areas
• Pregnant women
• Those in long-stay residential care homes
• Carers
• Those aged six months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
• Chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma (which requires an inhaled or tablet steroid treatment, or has led to hospital admission in the past), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
• Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
• Chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease or multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Diabetes
• Problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
• A weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medication such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
• Being seriously overweight (BMI of 40 or above)

In addition, vaccination is recommended for front-line health and social care workers.

Patients are advised to have the vaccination at the Surgery and that an appointment is not always necessary.