Walford mill medical centre

WALFORD MILL MEDICAL CENTRE
INFLUENZA (FLU) VACCINATION PROGRAMME AUTUMN 2012

Influenza (Flu) is a viral disease and can be more serious in elderly people, or those with long-term medical conditions. Fortunately, immunisation is
available and consists of a single vaccine given by injection in the arm. It has been shown to either prevent flu occurring or to lessen the effects if it
should occur.
The Flu vaccination is available free of charge on the NHS for all patients who are aged 65 and over and those patients, irrespective of
age, who fit into any of the “at risk” categories. Details of the Department of Health criteria for this NHS service are provided at the end of this
notice.

Walford Mill Medical Centre will be running flu vaccination clinics during October and November including a series of Saturday morning clinics and
a Sturminster Marshall clinic on Thursday 18th October). Patients registered with Walford Mill Medical Centre who meet the Department of Health
criteria for a free flu vaccination will be written to during September and invited to book an appointment quoting a unique patient number. If you
believe you meet the criteria but have not heard from us by the end of September, please contact the surgery and let us know. We regret we are
unable to provide vaccination to patients who do not meet the NHS criteria but, as in previous years, we expect that local pharmacies and
supermarkets may offer a fee basis private service open to all.
We are operating a special dedicated flu appointment line and if you have received an invitation to book an appointment, please use only this
telephone number and only during the designated times to book. We regret we are unable to accept flu clinic bookings outside of these times and
appreciate your co-operation.
The dedicated flu appointment line is open to take calls:
Tuesday 18th September between 2.00pm & 6.30pm
Wednesday 19th September between 2.00pm & 6.30pm
Thursday 20th September between 2.00pm & 6.30pm
Tuesday 25th September between 2.00pm & 6.30pm
Wednesday 26th September between 2.00pm & 6.30pm
Thursday 27th September between 2.00pm & 6.30pm
FLU APPOINTMENT LINE (01202) 857374
Please quote your patient number which will be provided in your invitation letter
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR NHS INFLUENZA VACCINATION 2012-13
Eligible groups
Further detail
All patients aged 65 years and over
"Sixty-five and over" is defined as those 65 and over on 31 March 2013 (i.e. born on or before 31 March 1948). Chronic respiratory disease
Asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and emphysema; bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Children who have previously been admitted to hospital for lower respiratory tract disease. Chronic heart disease
Congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronic heart failure, individuals requiring regular medication and/or follow-up for ischaemic heart disease. Chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5, chronic kidney failure, nephrotic syndrome, kidney transplantation. Chronic liver disease
Cirrhosis, biliary artesia, chronic hepatitis Chronic neurological disease
Stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Conditions in which respiratory function may be compromised, due to neurological disease (e.g. polio syndrome sufferers). Clinicians should consider on an individual basis the clinical needs of patients including individuals with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and related or similar conditions; or hereditary and degenerative disease of the nervous system or muscles; or severe neurological disability. Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs, diet controlled diabetes. Immunosuppression
Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment. Patients undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression. aged six months or older
Asplenia or splenic dysfunction, HIV infection at all stages. Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for more than a month at a dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or more per day (any age) or for children under 20kg a dose of 1mg or more per kg per day. It is difficult to define at what level of immuno-suppression a patient could be considered to be at a greater risk of the serious consequences of flu and should be offered flu vaccination. This decision is best made on an individual basis and left to the patient’s clinician. Some immunocompromised patients may have a suboptimal immunological response to the vaccine. Consideration should also be given to the vaccination of household contacts of immunocompromised individuals, i.e. individuals who expect to share living accommodation on most days over the winter and therefore for whom continuing close contact is unavoidable. This may include carers (see below). Pregnant women
Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy (first, second or third trimesters). People living in long-stay residential care Vaccination is recommended.
homes or other long-stay care facilities
where rapid spread is likely to follow
introduction of infection and cause high
morbidity and mortality. This does not
include, for instance, prisons, young
offender institutions, or university halls of
residence.

Those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer, or the carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill. (Please note – this category refers to individual carers entitled to a free flu vaccine on the NHS, not professional health and social care workers who should be vaccinated by their employer as part of an occupational health programme.)

Source: http://www.wimbornegp.co.uk/website/J81077/files/Flu_vaccination_programme_notice_for_WMMC_website.pdf