Flu Vaccinations 2011 - Don't Miss Out

The 'flu season approaches and so our vaccination programme will be beginning in October. We will be running 2 major Saturday morning clinics on 8th October and 22nd October: please book as soon as possible.

Swine 'flu is still one of the main 'flu strains circulating this year, and so is one of the three strains included in the seasonal 'flu vaccine.

Department of Health guidelines suggest the following may benefit from 'flu vaccination:

1. -All patients aged 65 or over by 31 March 2011

All those aged 6 months or over with:

1.  -Chronic Heart Disease-Heart Failure, regular medicines for Ischaemic Heart Disease, Congenital Heart Disease,  hypertension with heart complications.
2.  -Chronic Respiratory Disease and Asthma requiring continuous prescribed medication or hospital admission.
3.  -Chronic Renal Disease-Chronic Renal Failure, Nephritic Syndrome or renal transplantation.
4.  -Chronic Liver Disease- Cirrhosis, Biliary Atresia, Chronic Hepatitis.
5.  -Stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA).
6.  -Multiple Sclerosis and other degenerative diseases of the Central Nervous System.
7.  -All Diabetic patients
8.  -Immunosuppression- through disease or medications.
9.  -Main Carer’s for an elderly or disabled person or in receipt of a carer’s allowance.
10.  -Pregnant women. Even if you are otherwise healthy it is now recommended that all pregnant women receive the flu jab.

Even though you may have had a vaccine previously, the virus does change every year so you will not be fully protected from the flu this season.  For more information please see the Department of Health leaflet on flu vaccination available form the surgery or visit their website www.immunisation.nhs.uk.

Pneumonia Vaccination

All those under 65 entitled to free 'flu vaccination are also advised to have the pneumonia vaccination. This gives protection against the most common cause of pneumonia - a bacteria called pneumococcus.