Flu
Flu vaccination is safe and effective. It’s offered every year through the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
You may be invited for a flu jab if you are:
- over 65 years of age
- pregnant
or have:
- a serious heart or chest complaint, including asthma
- serious kidney disease
- diabetes
- lowered immunity due to disease or treatment such as steroid medication or cancer treatment
- if you have ever had a stroke
The NHS website provides information about who can get it, how to book and where to get the vaccine.
Find out about flu vaccination for adults
Find out about flu vaccination for children
Childhood immunisations
One of the most important things that a parent can do for their child is to make sure that they have all their routine childhood vaccinations. It’s the most effective way of keeping them protected against infectious diseases.
Ideally, children should have their jabs at the right age to protect them as early as possible and minimise the risk of infection.
Find out which jabs your child needs, when they need them, and what the benefits of each jab are on the NHS website.
Please see our appointments page to make an appointment.
Pneumococcal vaccination
The pneumococcal vaccine (or ‘pneumo jab’ or pneumonia vaccine as it’s also known) protects against pneumococcal infections.
Pneumococcal infections are caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and can lead to pneumonia, septicaemia (a kind of blood poisoning) and meningitis.
Find out about the pneumococcal vaccination.
Who should have the pneumococcal vaccine?
A pneumococcal infection can affect anyone. However, some people need the pneumococcal vaccination because they are at higher risk of complications. These include:
- all children under the age of two
- adults aged 65 or over
- children and adults with certain long-term health conditions, such as a serious heart or kidney condition
How often is the pneumococcal vaccine given?
Babies receive the pneumococcal vaccine as three separate injections, at 2 months, 4 months and 12 to 13 months.
People over 65 only need a single pneumococcal vaccination which will protect for life. It is not given annually like the flu jab.
People with a long term health condition may need just a single one off pneumococcal vaccination or five yearly vaccination depending on their underlying health problem.
Travel advice and vaccinations
In order to assist us to make a full assessment of the potential risks to your health from your planned travel, we would ask that you make a travel clinic appointment with our practice nurse. Ideally, this appointment should be made around the time of booking your holiday, at least 6 weeks before you travel.
At your appointment we may ask the following questions to help us plan for your trip:
- When are you departing and for how long
- Where are you going, including the destinations within a country
- Where are you staying, e.g. backpacking, camping, hotels
- Are you planning to undertake any high risk activities
- Have you taken out travel insurance and have you informed the company of any existing medical condition
- If female and of child bearing age, is there any possibility you could be pregnant, or are you planning a pregnancy
- Do you have any medical conditions, or a history of significant medical illness? (These can influence the choice of malaria tablets we recommend)
It would help us greatly if you had some awareness of the travel problems that you may be at risk from on your trip before you come for your appointment.
Useful links
COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against COVID-19.
The NHS website provides information about the vaccination, who can get it, and safety and side effects.
Find out about COVID-19 vaccination