NEWS FROM SEDBERGH MEDICAL PRACTICE-SEPTEMBER
Once again this year, as well as the normal flu injections, if eligible we will also be offering
the shingles vaccination and the nasal flu vaccine for children. We will be able to fit these in
with the existing Flu clinics which take place at the surgery on Saturday 19th September
and Saturday 10th October between 9am-11am as walk in clinics, we will also be running
a flu clinic in Dent Methodist Church on Monday 21st September between 11.30am12.15pm. Please telephone the practice if you are attending the Dent clinic.
If you are unable to attend the Saturday morning clinics we are offering a walk in service
during our normal opening times 8.30am–6.30pm, you may experience a short wait at busy
times.
The patients eligible for the seasonal flu vaccination are those patients aged 65 and over on
31st March 2016, pregnant women, those patients aged 6 months to 64 years defined as at
risk.
Children aged 2, 3 and 4 years old on 31st August 2015 (but not aged less than two or aged 5
or over) who are not in the seasonal flu at risk groups are eligible for a nasal flu vaccination these can be given in the Saturday morning clinics or alternatively please telephone the
surgery for an appointment. (01539 718191)
From 1 September 2015, the shingles vaccine will be offered routinely to people aged 70,
and the catch up will extend to those aged 78. In addition, patients who were eligible for
immunisation in the first 2 years of the programme but have not yet been vaccinated against
shingles, remain eligible until their 80th birthday. These groups are: people aged 71 and 72
on 1st September 2015; people aged 79. Other age groups will be introduced in future years to
ensure that all patients aged 70-79 are offered the vaccination.
The MenACWY vaccination programme commenced on 1st August 2015 with the
vaccination of teenagers aged between 17 and 18. This will offer teenagers protection against
meningitis and septicaemia caused by 4 meningococcal strains including MenW. All
adolescents born between 1 September 1996 and 31 August 1997 in England are eligible for
vaccination regardless of their future plans. Cases of MenW have been increasing year-onyear, from 22 cases in 2009 to 117 in 2014. It is currently responsible for around a quarter of
all laboratory-confirmed meningococcal cases in England. First time university entrants from
19 to 24 years of age have been advised to contact their GP for the vaccination.
If you are eligible please contact the surgery to make an appointment with a Practice
Nurse.
Sedbergh Medical Practice endorses the current vaccination programme. Prevention is better
than cure in the world of infectious disease (often viral so unable to be treated) and
vaccinations are a major reason why the general health of the population has improved.
Admittedly all interventions will have an element of risk or adverse effect-but the overall
benefit outweighs any problems caused. Please feel free to check your concerns with
vaccinations via our practice website at www.sedberghmp.nhs.uk , along with checking out
the latest news and our Facebook page.
*Flu clinics may be subject to change if delivery of vaccines is delayed