Child immunisations

Full details on the current child vaccination programme - when to have what jabs, what they all are, side effects, how to book etc
Also check out out babies and children page

Annual Flu vaccinations 2021

The nasal spray flu vaccine is free on the NHS for:

• children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2021 – born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2019 (done at GP surgery)
• all primary school children (reception to year 6) (done at school)
• all year 7 to year 11 children in secondary school (done at school)
• children aged 2 to 17 years with long-term health conditions (done at GP surgery or school)

If your child is aged between 6 months and 2 years and has a long-term health condition that makes them at higher risk from flu, they'll be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray (done at GP surgery) . This is because the nasal spray is not licensed for children under 2 years.

The nasal spray vaccine offers the best protection for children aged 2 to 17 years. They will be offered the flu vaccine injection if the nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for them.

Full details of child flu vaccinations on NHS website

Annual Flu vaccinations 2021

The Flu Vaccination campaign runs each autumn and winter and is calling up patients in 'at risk groups' and all patients aged 50yr and over by SMS. If you receive the SMS message you will need to reply that you are coming or we'll rebook you. Those not using SMS will be phoned.

Our first big clinic this year will be October 7th (delayed due to supplier's transport problems).

We shall arrange suitable physical distancing and all precautions and ask you to bring a face covering and follow instructions to ensure a rapid and safe service. We shall not be able to do anything else at this visit (so please don't ask for test results or anything!).

Having flu vaccine for those in the risk groups has never been more important due to Covid 19. Having flu and Covid together could be very serious and going down with one infection makes you more susceptible. We also need to avoid a big rise in flu at a time when the services are going to be stretched dealing with Covid.

Will you qualify for a free flu jab?

• All pregnant women
• 50yr or over (by 31st March)
• All children aged 2-10yr on 31 Aug 2021
• Any age 'at risk' groups:

- Diabetes
- Chronic lung disease
- Chronic heart disease 
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic neurological disease such as Parkinson's, Motor Neurone Disease,  or Multiple Sclerosis
- Weakened immune system  eg steroids, cancer, HIV/AIDs, no spleen , Sickle Cell Disease
- Close contacts of immunocompromised people
- Severe obesity  (BMI =/>40 or 35 with obesity related health problem)
- Learning disability
- People in long-stay residential care homes
- Carers or close contacts of frail people in the above categories or receiving carer's allowance
- Health and social care workers employed by a registered care/nursing home, registered care provider or a voluntary managed hospice provider (at registered practice)
- Locum GPs (at registered practice) frontline health and care staff (by employer)

Who should not have the flu jab?

Most adults can have the flu vaccine, but you should avoid it if you have had a serious allergic reaction to a flu vaccine in the past (this is not simply a red swelling at the vaccine site or feeling 'fluey' for a day or two - it means you were unwell with an anaphylactic or widespread allergic response)

You may be at risk of an allergic reaction to the flu vaccine injection if you have a severe egg allergy. This is because some flu vaccines are made using eggs. Ask a GP or pharmacist for a low-egg or egg-free vaccine.

If you're ill with a high temperature, it's best to wait until you're better before having the flu vaccine.


Further details on flu vaccination from NHS website