EACH year influenza, or flu as it is commonly known, seriously affects the health of thousands of people.
The flu vaccine is the best protection we have against influenza, so, every year the NHS identifies those people at greatest risk and offers them a free flu vaccination.
This year at Crediton’s Chiddenbrook Surgery, it has flu vaccine available for the following groups:
• All patients with diabetes, asthma or other long-term conditions
• Pregnant women
• Carers
• Those in long-stay residential care
• People aged 65 years and over
• Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
• Children aged two or three-years-old.
The surgery has taken delivery of its first batch of vaccine and will be holding a series of Saturday morning Flu Clinics on Saturday, October 12 (9am to 12 noon) and Saturday, October 19. More clinics will be added.
As well as Saturday clinics the surgery is putting on some evening surgeries, for example, Tuesday (evening) October 15.
The surgery clinical team will also be offering a vaccine to any eligible patient who has a routine nursing appointment booked.
The children’s Flu clinics will be carried out separately – all parents with children in the age group it has been commissioned to vaccinate are being contacted by letter.
To book appointments at Chiddenbrook Surgery either go online to book at: www.chiddenbrook-surgery.nhs.uk or telephone the surgery on 01363 772227. Please call after 10am to book a flu vaccination.
This year the surgery is also trialling the use of SMS text reminders and automated telephone messages. It hopes that this will encourage a high uptake for the vaccine.
If you are eligible for an NHS flu vaccine, there will be one available for you at the surgery.
The advice is that the flu vaccine is a valuable NHS resource; please do not let it go to waste!