Who is eligible for a Flu Vaccination?

Groups eligible for influenza vaccinations are based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The programme aims to provide direct protection to those who are at higher risk of influenza associated morbidity and mortality and to reduce transmission to all age groups through the vaccination of children.

You will usually be administered the vaccine recommended by the JCVI. Please follow this link to see the approved vaccines for this year.

• Those aged 65 years and over.
• those aged 6 months and under 65 years in clinical risk groups, please see the list here:
  • respiratory conditions, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and bronchitis.
  • diabetes
  • heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
  • being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above
  • chronic kidney disease
  • liver disease, such as hepatitis
  • some neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or cerebral palsy
  • a learning disability
  • problems with your spleen like sickle cell disease, or if you’ve had your spleen removed
  • a weakened immune system as a result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or taking medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
• Pregnant women.
• All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024.
• All primary school-aged children and all secondary school-aged children up to Year 11 (though this will usually be arranged by the child’s 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.

All frontline health care workers, including both clinical and non-clinical staff who have contact with patients, should be offered the influenza vaccine to protect themselves and those they care for. Social care workers who are in direct contact with people who receive care and support services should also have the influenza vaccine provided by their employer. This should be provided by their employer as part of the organisation’s policy to prevent the transmission of infection. 

Cohorts that were eligible in the 2022 to 2023 season but that are not included in the cohorts for 2024 to 2025 are:

• Those aged 50 to 64 years that are not in an ‘at risk’ category.

Following the transition to living with COVID-19 with a firmly established vaccination programme in place, the temporary expansion to the flu programme is no longer required and this year’s flu vaccine offer has reverted back to those aged 65 and over.

Who is eligible for a Covid Vaccination?

Previous COVID-19 booster programmes offered vaccination to a larger group of individuals as part of the pandemic emergency response. The success of these programmes has enabled us to live with Covid and, this year, we are able to scale back the number of people who require an autumn booster.

The risk of developing severe COVID-19 continues to be strongly associated with increasing age and underlying health conditions and therefore the focus is on those at greatest risk of serious disease.

How do I book my covid and flu appointment?

If you are eligible you will receive a text with a link to book an appointment, alternatively you can telephone the surgery on 01752 776772.

What if I am housebound?

We will contact our household patients directly to offer an at-home flu vaccination. Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide more specific arrival times than those provided at the time of booking.

If you are newly housebound, please contact the surgery to inform us of this.

What if I cannot attend my covid and flu vaccination appointment?

If you are unable to attend your flu vaccination appointment, please cancel by telephone at 01752 776772.

The Surgery provides a smoking cessation service; to book an appointment, please telephone reception and they can book you in with one of our HCA’s or our Care Coordinator, George Hatcher.

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges.

Examples include the following:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Passport signing
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

The practice nurses are the experts in this area; they are happy to offer general advice to people travelling abroad, together with details about malaria protection and immunisation for particular areas.

It may take up to 8 weeks for a full course of immunisations, so please contact us well before you are planning to go abroad.

We know that teenagers, particularly the under 16’s, worry that we will tell their parents if they come requesting contraception or to discuss any other medical matters; we can assure you that all consultations are confidential, all practice staff are bound by the same rules.

If you are embarking (or considering embarking) on sexual activity and don’t want a pregnancy, please come and see one of us to discuss contraception and safe sex.

Equally, if you just want information, we are more than happy to offer it and have some excellent leaflets; emergency contraception needs to be started as soon as possible after unprotected sex.

Pre conceptual advice is available at the surgery. If you are thinking of trying for a baby, we would encourage you to start taking folic acid.

We would also encourage smokers to try to stop smoking before becoming pregnant.

If you get a positive test, you do not need to see a doctor unless you have any concerns. After 7 days, please go online and complete the ‘Plymouth Midwife Booking Form’.

This is a surprisingly common problem and will affect about 10% of men at some time in their lives; those with diabetes are at particular risk. There are several simple treatments that can help.

Please see Dr Bruynseels if you want to discuss this problem.

All the doctors and sister Helen have specific training and qualifications in family planning and are happy to offer contraceptive and emergency contraception; whatever your age, we would much rather offer you contraception than have you risking an unwanted pregnancy.

Emergency contraception needs to be started as soon as possible after unprotected sex; we suggest that you telephone the surgery at 08:00 the following morning to arrange to be seen the same day.

It will help the receptionist to arrange an appropriate appointment if you can tell her it is for emergency contraception.

If you have been advised by the surgery to submit an review of your contraception, please complete our online contraception review form.

The doctors and health visitors work together to carry out the recommended developmental checks on children.

Please feel free to approach any of the doctors or health visitors if you have concerns about your child.

Amy is our social prescriber; she will discuss with you what help would improve your wellbeing and how they can support you.

To make a referral or get a copy of their referral form please call 01752 203 673 or email joannebower@wolseley-trust.org.