It”s that time of year again when the annual flu vaccine is due. It is recommended for all those who are:

• Over 65 years
• Patients living in residential homes and nursing homes
• Health and social care staff
• People who are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill

It is also recommended in those with:

• Chronic Respiratory disease
• Chronic Kidney disease
• Chronic Heart disease
• Chronic Liver disease
• Those who are immuncompromised (through cancer or powerful medications)

The surgery will be starting vaccinations on Monday 5th October between 1pm and 2:30pm, based on a ‘first come, first serve’ appointment system every day. Vaccinations will be administered by the nursing staff and you will need to wait for 10m in the surgery to ensure you don’t have any after effects.

We highly recommend that all people in the above groups are vaccinated, since although flu is generally nothing more than a nuisance, it can prove fatal, especially to the older population. (In the bad winter weather of 2011, about 112 people died of flu.)

For more detailed information see the flu page.