Westside Surgery
Patient Information Leaflet
AM I ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE FLU VACCINATION ON THE NHS?
The criteria change each year – the eligible groups this year are listed below. Anyone who is
not eligible will not be vaccinated under any circumstances. They should go to a private
provider if they want the vaccination.
Professional health and social care workers should be vaccinated by their employer as part of
an occupational health programme – we are not able to do this for them.
Eligible groups
All patients age 65y+
All patients age 2-3 years
Chronic respiratory disease age 6m+
Chronic heart disease age 6m+
Chronic kidney disease age 6m+
Chronic liver disease age 6m+
Chronic neurological disease age
6m+
Diabetes age 6m+
Immunosuppression
Pregnant women
People living in long-stay residential
care homes
Carers
Flu season
Further information
On or by 31 March 2015
1) Asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of
inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations
requiring hospital admission.
2) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
including chronic bronchitis and emphysema;
bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung fibrosis,
pneumoconiosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
3) Children who have previously been admitted to hospital
for lower respiratory tract disease.
Congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac
complications, chronic heart failure, individuals requiring
regular medication and/or follow-up for ischaemic heart
disease.
Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5, chronic kidney
failure, nephrotic syndrome, kidney transplantation.
Cirrhosis, biliary artesia, chronic hepatitis
1) Stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
2) Conditions in which respiratory function may be
compromised (eg polio syndrome sufferers).
1) Type 1 diabetes
2) Type 2 diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic
drugs
3) Diet controlled diabetes
1) Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment.
2) Patients undergoing chemotherapy leading to
immunosuppression.
3) Asplenia or splenic dysfunction
4) HIV infection at all stages.
5) Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with
systemic steroids for more than a month at a dose
equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or
more per day (any age) or for children under 20kg a dose
of 1mg or more per kg per day.
Consideration will also be given to the vaccination of
household contacts of immunocompromised individuals, ie
individuals who expect to share living accommodation on
most days over the winter and therefore for whom
continuing close contact is unavoidable. This may include
carers (see below).
Those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those
who are the main carer, or the carer of an elderly or
disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer
falls ill.
FLU CLINIC DATES 2014
We are running dedicated flu clinics on these dates:
Saturday, 4 October 0830-1430hrs
Saturday, 25 October 0830-1430hrs
If you are not feeling well or no longer need your appointment, please
contact us to cancel. Please note our phone lines are not open on
Saturdays.
HOW TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR FLU VACCINE
If you’re in one of the eligible groups listed above, please book an
appointment for your flu vaccination.
You can book in a number of different ways:
1. In person at the reception desk (open Mondays & Tuesdays 08002000hrs and Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 0800-1830hrs)
2. By telephoning reception on 01205 362556 (option 2) Mondays to
Fridays 0800-1830hrs
3. By telephoning the automated booking system on 01205 362556
option 1 anytime of the day or night
4. Online via SystmOnline anytime of the day or night. If you have not
yet registered for this free service, please ask at reception.
We will not be posting invitation letters this year due to the significant
increase in postage costs.
For more information about the flu vaccine, please see our website:
www.westsidesurgery.co.uk