Vaccination teams in Ayrshire are welcoming people back to clinics around the region to have their winter vaccinations.
From Monday 4 September, flu vaccinations are being offered to eligible people including those aged 50 years and over, those aged 18 – 49 who have a health condition, teachers and prison staff. Invitations to attend have already been sent out, either by post in a white NHS Scotland envelope or by email or text, depending on communication preferences.
Eligible health and social care workers can now come forward for their flu vaccine, with frontline staff also being offered a COVID-19 winter booster vaccine. Details of clinics for staff are available through local communications and line managers in health and social care work settings.
Pre-school and school aged children are also eligible for a flu vaccination and families are currently being contacted to provide consent for the painless nasal vaccine on offer for children. Parents and carers should look out for these forms in school bags and return them completed as soon as possible.
The first two weeks of the winter vaccine programme will focus, in the main, on delivering seasonal flu vaccines. From Monday 18 September, people eligible for both a COVID-19 booster and a flu vaccine will be offered both vaccines at the same time. Groups eligible for both include:
- Residents and staff in care homes for older adults,
- Those aged 65 and over,
- Those aged 6 months to 64 years of age who are at higher clinical risk from COVID-19,
- Pregnant women,
- Carers aged 16-64,
- Household contacts of those with a weakened immune system aged 12-64.
Please look out for your appointment details and follow the instructions provided on the letter, email or text if you need to reschedule. Vaccinators will be visiting Ayrshire care homes offering vaccines to residents and staff, as well as arranging to vaccinate housebound individuals in their own homes from early October.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Assistant Director of Public Health Lisa Davidson said:
“Our teams have been carrying out detailed preparations for our Ayrshire and Arran winter vaccine programme and we look forward to welcoming people back to our clinics this autumn and winter.
“Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and we strongly encourage those eligible to take up the offer when it comes. Viruses are always changing and getting vaccinated every year is the best way to stay protected.
“Please look out for your appointment details arriving by post in a white NHS envelope, unless you have opted for a digital communication preference, in which case you won’t get a letter, you will receive a text message or email. As we expect our Mass Vaccination Clinics to be very busy, we will not initially be offering drop-in opportunities for the public, so please only attend if you have been invited to do so.”
BACKGROUND
- For details on eligibility for winter vaccinations please visit NHS Inform Winter vaccines | NHS inform
- For local information on flu vaccinations visit: Flu Vaccine – NHS Ayrshire & Arran (nhsaaa.net)
- For local information on COVID-19 vaccinations visit: COVID-19 Vaccine Programme – NHS Ayrshire & Arran COVID-19 vaccine programme (nhsaaa.net)
- As per JCVI advice, frontline Health and Social Care workers are eligible for both COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Staff should follow advice from their place of work regarding local arrangements.
- National vaccination helpline: 0800 030 8013