We believe the flu vaccine is the most effective way of preventing seasonal flu. Our highly trained pharmacist is on hand to offer you the flu vaccine without an appointment. You may even qualify for a free vaccine.
What is flu?
Flu is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted through the air and infects people of all ages. It can lead to serious illnesses, such as pneumonia and even death, particularly in the vulnerable and young. Symptoms can last up to several weeks and include high fever, cough, fatigue, chills, sweating, vomiting and dizziness. The flu vaccine is the most effective way of preventing seasonal flu. Each year from September the NHS runs a seasonal flu vaccination campaign
What do we offer?
Our pharmacist is trained to give you the flu vaccine. All you need to is pop in and speak to our team, no appointment is necessary
Below is a list of those who could be eligible for the free NHS flu vaccination:
- all people aged 65 years and over
- people aged from 18 to less than 65 years of age with one or more of the following medical conditions:
- long term Asthma or COPD
- long term heart disease
- long term kidney disease
- long term liver disease
- long term neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s disease or motor neurone disease, or learning disability
- diabetes
- immunosuppresion, a weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment)
- asplenia or splenic dysfunction
- morbid obesity
- pregnant women aged 18 or over (including those women who become pregnant during the flu season)
- people aged 18 or over living in long-stay residential care homes or other long-stay care facilities
- social care workers
- carers aged 18 or over or
- household contacts of immunocompromised individuals who are aged 18 or over.
FAQs
Q. At what stage of pregnancy should pregnant women be offered the flu vaccine?
All pregnant women should be offered an inactivated influenza vaccine whilst pregnant, regardless of their stage of pregnancy. Studies have demonstrated that pregnant women can safely receive influenza vaccine during pregnancy and that infants also receive some protection from maternal antibodies as a result of their mother having the vaccination whilst pregnant.
Q. Can the flu vaccine be given to women who are breastfeeding?
Yes. The flu vaccine can be given to breastfeeding women; however, breastfeeding women are not eligible for the community pharmacy Advanced Flu Vaccination Service unless in a clinical risk group.
Q. If a patient has already received a seasonal flu vaccine this year (e.g. in January 2017), do they still need a vaccine during this flu season (e.g. September 2017 – March 2018)?
Yes. If the patient received the vaccine produced for the 2016/17 season then they will still need a dose of the vaccine produced for the 2017/18 season as the vaccine for 2017/18 contains different strains from the previous year.
In addition, the protection gained from flu vaccine is thought to last for one season only so those eligible to receive the vaccine are recommended to have it every year to ensure on-going protection.
Q. Can immunosuppressed patients have the flu vaccine?
Yes, the inactivated influenza vaccine can be safely given to immunosuppressed individuals though they may have a sub optimal response to the vaccine.
Q. Can patients taking steroids have the inactivated flu vaccine?
Yes, patients taking steroids can be safely vaccinated with inactivated flu vaccine. Patients that are receiving high-dose steroids may be immunosuppressed for at least 3 months after cessation of treatment.
Q. When should patients having chemotherapy have their flu vaccine?
Patients receiving chemotherapy should receive their vaccine at the earliest opportunity. For individuals due to commence immunosuppressive treatments, inactivated vaccines should ideally be administered at least two weeks before commencement. In some cases this will not be possible and therefore vaccination may be carried out at any time.
Q. If an individual has had confirmed influenza recently and they are in an at risk group should they still have the vaccine?
Yes, anyone eligible to receive the vaccine should still have it even if they have had confirmed influenza, either recently or in the past. Having the vaccine will help to protect against other circulating strains. The inactivated flu vaccine can be given at any time following recovery providing there are no contraindications to vaccination.
Q. Can children receive a flu vaccination at the pharmacy?
No. The NHS Flu Vaccination Service is for patients aged 18 years and over who fall into an eligible group; it does not cover children.
Q. Are all people with asthma (aged 18 years or over) eligible for an NHS flu vaccination?
No. People with asthma are entitled to an NHS flu vaccination if they have asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission. Therefore, patients who are only prescribed a short-acting β2 agonist, for example, salbutamol to manage their asthma are not entitled to an NHS flu vaccination unless they fall into another eligible group.
Q. Can a vaccination be provided to a patient in an eligible group who is registered with an NHS GP practice and lives elsewhere in England or one of the other home countries, for example, Scotland?
Yes. There are no geographical restrictions placed on provision of the service to eligible patients registered with an NHS GP practice.
Q. Is a patient with epilepsy eligible for an NHS flu vaccination under the national Flu Vaccination Service?
No. Epilepsy is not considered a high-risk group for flu; therefore, patients with epilepsy are not entitled to an NHS flu vaccination unless they fall into another eligible group.
Q. Do patients with HIV need to stop their antiretroviral treatment for two weeks after immunisation and not be immunised until 48 hours after stopping the antivirals?
No. The HIV Pharmacy Association of the UK has advised that there is no interaction between the influenza vaccine and antiretrovirals used to treat or prevent HIV infection and recommend that it is safe to give patients on antiretroviral therapy the influenza vaccine without compromising either the vaccine or the patient’s HIV treatment.
Q. Which care home and domiciliary care workers are eligible to receive the NHS Flu Vaccination?
Only health and social care staff (aged 18 years and over) employed by a registered residential care/nursing home or registered domiciliary care provider who are directly involved in the care of vulnerable patients/clients who are at increased risk from exposure to influenza, meaning those patients/clients in a clinical risk group or aged 65 years and over, are eligible to be vaccinated by community pharmacies.
Q. Are health and social care staff working in sheltered housing accommodation, for example, warden controlled flats, eligible to receive the Flu Vaccination Advanced Service?
No. Sheltered housing providers are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission and are therefore not required to be registered. However, if a registered domiciliary care provider has staff that attend sheltered housing accommodation to support patients, then these staff will be eligible for vaccination.
Q. Are health and social care staff working in extra-care housing (also called assisted living) eligible to receive the Flu Vaccination Advanced Service?
Yes. Unlike sheltered housing, extra care housing is regulated by the Care Quality Commission. Therefore, these staff do fall in the definition outlined by the service if they are directly involved with the care of the patient.
Extra-care housing (also called assisted living) offers more support than sheltered housing, but still allows clients to live independently. Clients live in a self-contained flat, with their own front door, but meals may be provided. Personal care and support services are generally available on-site 24 hours a day. Some extra care housing is available to buy or rent privately and some is available from the local council following a needs assessment. This type of housing isn’t available in all areas.
