Vaccinations 2024

Posted by: lydiahellings1 - Posted on:

Over the winter season, there are a few vaccinations that some of our eligible patients will be called for.

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

This vaccination is new into the national campaigns and has been designed to help protect newborn babies and all adults turning 75 on or after the campaign begins, a one-off campaign for those aged 75-79 will be undertaken at the earliest opportunity. Going forward on a person’s 75th Birthday, they will become eligible. This vaccine will only be needed once (as far as we know). These cohorts have been identified as having the greatest risk of RSV.

RSV is a major cause of respiratory illnesses, which can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia- often resulting in hospitalisation and intensive care. The vaccination campaign is to proactively try to reduce this risk in our patients. The vaccination has been announced to have an effectiveness of 70%. This must be given separately to other vaccines such as flu and COVID.

The campaign for RSV started on 01/09/2024 and eligible patients will be contacted. Patients who are eligible:

  • Women who are over 28 weeks of their pregnancy.
  • All 75-79 year olds

Flu Vaccinations/ COVID Vaccinations

Flu vaccination remains critically important public health in those most at risk, including older people, pregnant women and those in clinical risk groups.

All patients who are eligible for flu vaccinations, will also be offered their COVID vaccinations.

This years flu/ COVID campaign will be in 2 stages, this is based on the evidence that flu vaccine’s effectiveness can wane over time in adults. Nationally it has been decided to move the start of the program for most adults to the beginning of October, closer to the time that the flu season commonly starts.

It is preferable to vaccinate individuals closer to the time when the flu virus is likely to circulate (which typically peaks in December/ January), as this will provide optimal protection during the highest risk period. As flu circulation in children normally precedes that in adults, it has been Nationally agreed that the children’s programme should continue to start in September as early as delivery and supply allows.

Protection from the vaccine lasts much longer in children, therefore the priority is to start vaccinating all children (including those in clinical risk groups) from 1 September, should provide early protection to children and reduce transmission to the wider population.

Pregnant women are an exception to the advice on a later start date. There are 3 clinical reasons to vaccinate pregnant women against flu:

  • to protect the pregnant women themselves (they are at higher risk from complications from flu)
  • to protect the baby during pregnancy (for example flu infection increases the risks of the baby being premature or stillborn)
  • to protect the baby in the first few months of life (babies aged under 6 months are at high risk of complications from flu)

The Stages are:

  • From 1st September 2024-
  • -Pregnant Women
  • -Children aged 2-3 years old
  • From 3rd October 2024-
  • – Adults aged 65 years and over
  • – 18- 65 in clinical risk groups
  • – Care home residents
  • – Housebound patients
  • – Carers in receipt of carers allowance *this must be documented on their medical records*
  • – Household contacts to immunocompromised
  • – Frontline works (social care/ health care setting)

All patients that are eligible for these vaccinations will be contacted, alternatively- to find out if you are eligible, please call the Surgery on 01924 476363 and discuss this with our patient service team.