Vaccinations 2024/2025

Flu/Covid Vaccines 2024

 

The Practice is actively inviting all eligible patients for the flu/covid vaccine.  We would ask that you do not contact the Practice by telephone to make an appointment.  You will be invited to attend in due course. Please be patient as this is a huge administrative task. 

Eligible cohorts to be vaccinated at the Practice, as stipulated by Public Health Agency are:

Eligible Patients:

Flu

Covid

All those aged 65 years and over

YES

YES

Those in clinical risk group aged 6months – 64 years (as defined by JCVI)

YES

YES

Pregnant women

YES

YES

All pre-school children 2-4 years

YES

NO

Close contacts of those who are immunosuppressed

YES

NO

Community Pharmacies are also participating in the flu vaccination programme.  For information on local participating pharmacies please visit: www.vaccinations.covid-19.hscni.net

Click here for further information on the vaccine programme

RSV Vaccine

The Practice is currently preparing for the RSV vaccine campaign.  If you are in an eligible cohort, and can be vaccinated at the surgery we will invite you to attend in due course.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that that can cause serious lung infections. While RSV infection can occur at any age, the risk and severity of RSV and its complications are increased in older adults and in neonates and small babies.  

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programmes for older adults and during pregnancy for infant protection:

  • GPs will lead the vaccination programmes for older adults turning 75 years old. In addition, there will be a catch-up campaign for those already aged 75 to 79 years old on 1 September 2024.
  • The maternity vaccination programme will be organised by Trust maternity services, and practices should encourage pregnant women to take the vaccination offered by the maternity services. Practices should not vaccinate pregnant women.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccine-older-adults

Shingles Campaign 2024/2025

The Public Health Agency have recently made policy changes to the shingles vaccination programme from September 2024.  

Eligible patients are now those:

  • aged 65 years old on 1 September 2024 (DOB 02/09/1958-01/09/1959)
  • aged 70 years old on 1 September 2024 (DOB 02/09/1953-01/09/1954)
  • Severely immunosuppressed individuals aged 50 years and over (as specified by Public Health Agency)

Eligible patients will be invited to attend for vaccination.  Due to resource contraints the Practice would strongly encourage you to attend your appointment.  

*Please note that those aged 66-69 are not eligible this year, they will become eligible in the year they turn 70.

Full details can be found at: Shingles vaccine | nidirect

Pneumococcal Vaccination

The Pneumococcal Vaccination helps prevent against pneumonia.  It is a lifelong vaccine offered to all patients aged over 65 years old.  The Practice is actively inviting eligible patients.  Please be patient with us as this is a large undertaking.  

Patients who are severely immunosupressed are also eligible for the vaccine, but will receive 2 doses, 5 years apart.  The Practice is actively inviting this eligible cohort.  If you have been advised by your Hospital Consultant to receive a pneumococcal vaccine, please contact the Practice.   

Further information can be found at: Pneumonia | nidirect