School Lane SurgeryThis year we will be offering the flu vaccine and the covid booster at the same time, following advice from NHS England and the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI). In line with public health recommendations, wherever possible flu and COVID vaccines should be administered at the same time. This is to provide as much protection for patients as possible against two infectious respiratory diseases.
Am I eligible for the Flu and Covid Vaccine this Winter?
The eligible cohorts for Seasonal Flu vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination are similar, but they are NOT identical. These are detailed below:
Seasonal Flu Vaccination Cohort Eligibility
- Those aged 65 years old and over (or those who will be 65yrs on or before 31/03/24).
- Those aged 6 months to under 65 years old in clinical risk groups.
- Pregnant women – all stages.
- All children aged 2 or 3 years old on 31 August 2023.
- Primary school aged children from Reception to Year 6 (Children will be invited through their school).
- Those in long-stay residential care homes.
- Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person.
- Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals.
- Frontline workers in a social care setting.
COVID-19 Vaccination Cohort Eligibility
- Residents in a care home for older adults.
- All adults aged 65 years old and over (or those who will be 65yrs on or before 31/03/24).
- Persons aged 6 months to under 64 years old in a clinical risk group.
- Frontline health and social care workers.
- Persons aged 12 years to under 65 years old who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression.
- Pregnant women – all stages.
- Persons aged 16 years to under 65 years old who are carers and staff working in care homes for older adults.
If you are unsure if you meet the criteria above, please contact the surgery to discuss.
Last year I was eligible but not this year. Why is that?
The patients who are eligible are based on the advice from JCVI to allow for those most at risk to be protected from the impact of flu or covid where infection may lead to greater risk.
The criteria is set at a national level and does change each year. For example, this year the universal offer to patients aged 50 to 64yrs old who DO NOT have an underlying medical condition has been removed and will not be eligible for a free flu or covid vaccine.
I had the flu and/or covid vaccine last year. Do I need to have it again?
If you are eligible, it is important to top up your protection as immunity fades over time and viruses change. The vaccines give you additional protection to that gained from previous infections.
When will the vaccines be available?
- 11th September for those most at risk, including adult care home residents: We will be liaising directly with local care homes to vaccinate those patients.
- From 18 September: we will start to invite patients who are eligible and will be able to book an appointment on the National Booking Service.
How do I book an appointment?
If you are in one of the groups eligible for one or both of the vaccines, you will receive an invite from us – if we have a mobile number for you, we will send you a link via SMS which will allow you to book your appointment yourself on the National Booking System, and if we don’t, you’ll receive a letter from us inviting you to call in to book.
It is really helpful for us to be able to text the invites, and convenient for you to be able to book through the link, so if we don’t have your number, please let us have it without delay.
On the NBS you will be able to:
- Check if you need a vaccine
- Book a vaccine
- Check your existing appointment details
- Change your appointment
- Cancel your appointment
Clinics will be held at the Healthy Living Centre (Croxton Road, Thetford, IP24 1JD).
Where will the vaccines be given?
This year the vaccines will be given at the Healthy Living Centre. Dual vaccine clinics will not be held at School Lane.
I have never had a covid vaccine before, can I have the booster?
Yes. The JCVI advises that people who have not yet received their first Covid jab should be offered a single vaccine dose as their primary course. The criteria for eligibility for a first Covid vaccine is the same as the Autumn 2023 booster.
I am housebound, how do I book a vaccine?
If you are unable to leave your house, we will contact you to arrange a date and time to visit in the coming weeks. Housebound patients are known to us, and we will have a dedicated team to vaccinate those patients.
Due to the time it takes to attend a home address and vaccinate, we will only be visiting those patients who are marked as housebound on their clinical record. If you are able to do so, we would request that you attend the Healthy Living Centre to receive your vaccination(s) where possible.
I/my family member lives in a care home. How will care home residents receive the vaccine?
We have been in contact with the local care homes and a team will be attending care homes starting week commencing 11th September. We will aim to have all care home residents and staff vaccinated (or the offer of a vaccine made) as quickly as possible and before 22nd October at the very latest.
Is it safe having both vaccines at the same time?
The vaccines are safe for most people to have at the same time (co-administration) and the JCVI and NHS England have advised that wherever possible, vaccinations for flu and covid should be offered at the same time, making it easier and more convenient for people to get vital protection from both viruses ahead of Winter.
What are the side effects?
For the flu vaccine you may get a slight temperature, and your arm may feel a bit sore where you have the injection. Other reactions are rare. Most side effects are mild and only last for a day or so.
For the covid vaccine the common side effects are the same for all covid vaccines used in the UK, and include:
- Feeling tired
- A headache, general aches or mild flu-like symptoms
- Feeling or being sick
You can rest and take paracetamol (follow the dose advice in the packaging) to help make you feel better.
Must I have both or can I have only the flu/covid vaccine?
You will be offered vaccination(s) based on your eligibility. As the eligible groups for both covid and flu are similar, then it is likely that you will be offered both. You can choose the following:
- Have both flu and covid.
- Flu vaccine only.
- Covid vaccine only.
- Decline both vaccines.
It is personal choice as to which vaccine you would like to have. To ensure that you are fully protected against flu and covid, the advice would be for all those eligible to have both vaccines as soon as they are offered. It can take up to 14 days to develop an immune response following a vaccination, so the earlier they are given the better protected you will be.
Whilst no vaccine will be 100% effective against contracting infection, it does provide the best protection to you as well as the wider community making it harder for the virus to spread. If you are unlucky enough to contract flu or covid after the vaccination, often the symptoms are less severe and your may recover quicker.
If you have any questions about the flu or covid vaccinations, then do please contact the surgery where we will be happy to help.