Flu and Covid Vaccinations 2024/25
NHS England have advised we should do children first in September along with pregnant ladies. The earliest date we can give flu for all others is 3rd October and this will be the case for Pharmacies too – this is because NHS thoughts are that its better to give it a little later in October instead of September so there is better protection further into the flu season in February and March when flu is circulating.
Each clinic we will be vaccinating around 700 patients, to ensure these clinics run as smoothly as possible we ask patients to arrive as close as possible to their appointment time and be ready to be vaccinated.
Our Flu and COVID vaccinations for eligible patients will be offered on:
🗓️14th September – Children and Pregnant ladies only (flu only)
🗓️ 5th, 12th, and 26th of October
📍 The Downland Practice Chieveley RG20 8UY
Invites will be sent out early September via text message and phone calls to those without a mobile. Please use the self-book link on the text message, this will help us keep the phone lines free for patients calling to book appointments.
Please see below our most commonly ask questions:
Do I have to have both Covid and Flu vaccine?
No, you will be offered both but can choose to only have one or the other.
What about Compton?
We will probably put a Compton clinic on at some point in October depending on demand – but no firm dates yet.
Will there be other dates?
We are aiming to get the majority done on these dates. If any patient cannot make these dates, please call back mid-October when we have a clearer idea on uptake and if more dates are needed. We may add mini catch-up clinics during the week later in the year, but this is not definite and will depend on nurse availability.
Which children qualify?
We will only be inviting 2- and 3-year-olds and At Risk 17-year-olds in Year 12 at school. We can vaccinate other children at risk who are at school, but they should ideally be vaccinated at school due to our limited stock numbers.
School age children with no health conditions will be done at school – all children from Reception to Year 11 will be offered a flu vaccine from the school nurses. WE CANNOT VACCINATE CHILDREN WITH NO QUALIFYING HEALTH CONDITIONS. This is because we have no funding or vaccine supply to vaccinate school age children with no health conditions – it is the school nurse’s responsibility as they have been given the contract and funding for this. The school nursing team will be in touch with the schools to advise when they will be visiting. They will arrange catch ups, if necessary, too. This also applies to home schooled children. More info on the school nurses can be found here;
https://cypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/our-services/public-health-nursing-health-visiting-school-nursing-immunisation/immunisations/
If the above does not answer your question please submit a web query to the Care co-ordinator’s here: Ask The Care Coordinator a Question | The Downland Practice