Eligible patients living on the Isle of Arran are being invited back to community clinics 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.
Vaccination teams will be at the Ormidale Sports Pavilion in Brodick on 4, 5, 8 and 9 October 2024. NHS letters with appointment details are being sent out, unless patients have indicated a digital preference to be contacted by SMS or email. The clinics are also open to Health & Social Care workers to drop-in to be vaccinated. Frontline patient-facing staff are eligible for both COVID and flu and non-frontline NHS staff are eligible for flu only.
Visits to housebound patients and care home residents are also being arranged.
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:
“Our teams are looking forward to offering winter vaccine opportunities on the island this October.
“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. Our vaccinators look forward to welcoming you along to the Ormidale Sports Pavilion at the time you are appointed.”
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.
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 flu vaccine.
Read more about the child flu vaccine including who is eligible.