Eligible patients are being welcomed back to community clinics across Ayrshire to receive their winter vaccinations.
COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccines are being offered to those most at risk, with the aim of preventing severe illness and hospitalisations. Viruses like flu and COVID-19 are constantly changing, so having your winter vaccinations each year offers the best protection against the viruses circulating in the coming months.
Community clinics are currently hosting appointments for those being invited for flu only. Vaccinations for those who are housebound begin this week, before our teams start visiting care homes to offer vaccinations to both residents and staff. From Monday 30 September community clinics will offer flu and COVID-19 vaccination for those eligible for both vaccinations. NHS letters with appointment details are being sent out, unless patients have indicated a digital preference to be contacted by SMS or email.
Child flu clinics are also now underway in schools, nurseries and at community clinics for pre-school children. If you are yet to return your child’s consent forms for the painless nasal spray child flu vaccine please do so as soon as possible.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Director of Public Health Lynne McNiven said:
“Preparations are well underway for the delivery of our important winter vaccination programme, which will see tens of thousands of appointments take place in settings across Ayrshire once again this year.
“Some people are eligible for flu only, while others are invited for both flu and COVID-19 vaccinations and if you are offered one or both of these vaccines I’d urge you to take up the offer when it comes, as getting your vaccines is the best way to protect yourself. Winter viruses can cause severe illness, especially for those most at risk, including older people, those with weakened immune systems and pregnant women.
“Please wait to be contacted and look out for your appointment details arriving by post, email or text message depending on your communication preferences. Patients should attend the appointment at the time and location allocated, unless this is unsuitable for some reason, in which case you can rearrange by following the instructions on your letter. We look forward to welcoming our Ayrshire winter vaccine recipients back to clinics over the coming weeks and months and I thank all our staff involved for their hard work in delivering the programme for 2024.”
More information is available on Winter vaccines | NHS inform, including a self-help guide that helps you find out the vaccines you may be eligible for and how you’ll be offered them.
In Ayrshire, some Community Pharmacies are offering free seasonal flu vaccinations (not COVID-19) to targeted eligible groups. For the list of participating community pharmacies please visit: https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/flu-vaccine/flu-vaccine-participating-community-pharmacies-in-ayrshire/.
ENDS
BACKGROUND
You’ll be offered flu and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines this winter if you’re:
- living or working in a care home for older adults
- aged 65 and over
- aged 6 months and over with an eligible health condition
- pregnant
- a frontline health or social care worker
You’ll be offered the flu vaccine if you’re:
- aged 18 to 64 with an eligible health condition
- living with someone who has a weakened immune system
- an unpaid or young carer
- a non-frontline NHS worker
- a poultry worker
- an asylum seeker living in a home office hotel or B&B accommodation
- experiencing homelessness or substance misuse
- living in a Scottish prison
- living in a long-stay residential care home or other long stay care facility
Read more about the Ayrshire flu vaccine programme.
Read more about the child flu vaccine including who is eligible.