Health @ TuxfordWe will be offering Saturday Flu and / or Covid Vaccinations at the surgery premises (Faraday Avenue) ALL DAY on Saturday 5th October 2024.
To ensure the clinics run as smoothly as possible all vaccinations will be via appointment only. Every patient requires their own appointment (in previous years we have often vaccinated couples in a single appointment – we are unable to do that this year!).
Flu and Covid vaccinations together, or separately…?
If you are eligible for both Flu and Covid vaccinations you only need to book one appointment and we will provide both vaccines at a single appointment.
However – if you don’t want them together – which vaccine you have and when is entirely your choice. If you wish to have them separately please book two appointments. When you attend the clinician will ask which vaccine you wish to have.
Booking online
Eligible patients whom we have a mobile phone number for should receive a text message inviting them to ‘self book’ their vaccination. Please remember that each person needs their own appointment.
Alternatively, patients can use other online options for booking their appointments, such as
- The NHS App – can be accessed here: www.nhsapp.service.nhs.uk/login
- EMIS Access – can be accessed here: www.patientaccess.com/
We are unable to vaccinate patients who do not meet eligibility criteria, so any patients who book online but are not eligible will be cancelled.
Booking by Phone
We would be grateful if patients ringing to book flu vaccination appointments could ring after 10:30 in the morning to help ensure that patients phoning medical complaints can get through on the phone. The surgery phone line is: 01777 870 203
Why can’t I have my vaccination in September?
Unfortunately this years NHS’s rules around eligibility this year means that we’re unable to vaccinate until October, with only very small cohort of patients being eligible in September. Further supporting information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flu-vaccine-supply-when-can-you-get-your-vaccination/when-can-you-get-your-flu-vaccine
Why are you only running one Saturday clinic – and what if I can’t attend?
In previous years we have run a couple of different Saturday morning vaccination clinics. Unfortunately, due to us not being allowed to vaccinate patients in September, coupled with staff annual leave plus school October Holidays we haven’t been able to staff two different Saturdays. Hence us offering vaccinations on one full day, rather than two half days.
However – we do appreciate that patient will not all be able to attend on Saturday 5th October and we will be holding vaccinations clinics during the working week throughout October and into November.
Eligibility
The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to adults who:
- are 65 and over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2024)
- have certain health conditions
- are pregnant
- are carers
- are immunosuppressed
Patients aged 50 to 65 who do not have any health conditions are NOT eligible for a free NHS Flu Vaccination during the 2024/25 season (same as last year).
Information about the Vaccines
The NHS Choices website is one of the best places to find information about this years seasonal vaccinations. Information about the Flu Vaccination can be found here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/
When you come for your appointment…
When you attend for your appointment please do not enter the building more than 5 minutes before your appointment time. If you are early please wait outside.
Please arrive as close to your appointment time as possible – our car parking is very limited.
As in previous years we will be operating a one way system – so after you have had your vaccination you will be directed to leave the building via the backdoor.
If you have changed your mobile phone number please ensure you share your new number with us.
Finally…
We do hope that everything runs smoothly – however despite our planning we are completely at the mercy of vaccine companies delivery schedules – and unfortunately hiccups do happen from time to time. Should anything change we will contact you as soon as we can. We will share information as quickly as possible via our website and social media, then by text message. Please follow our Facebook page to get updates quickly.
Thanks for reading!