Childhood Immunisations
This practice follows the national policy for childhood immunisation. Further information can be found on the NHS Immunisation Schedule website.
We have developed a short video “TB, BCG and your baby – video for parents and carers” that outlines the changes to neonatal BCG and who is now eligible.
Why vaccination is safe and important?
Watch a video of a GP answering a parent’s questions about vaccinations.
https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-important-and-the-safest-way-to-protect-yourself
Childhood Immunisation Schedule
Teenage Immunisations
If you have missed your teenage immunisations in school, you can have these done at the surgery:
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- Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine – given around age 12
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- Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio Booster – given around age 14
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- Meningitis ACWY – given around age 14
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name of a family of viruses that affect the skin and the moist membranes that line your body, such as those in your cervix, anus, mouth and throat. These membranes are called the mucosa.
The HPV vaccine has been offered to all girls and in school year 8 for over 10 years. Since September 2019, the vaccine has also been offered to year 8 boys. This is because the evidence is clear the HPV vaccine helps protect both boys and girls from HPV-related cancers.
The programme is delivered largely through secondary schools, and consists of two doses that are given over a 6-12 month period.
Please click this link for further information: HPV leaflet
Diphtheria Tetanus and Polio Booster
Three doses given as part of baby immunisations programme, first booster dose is given with pre school Immunisations and a final booster dose is given around age 14.
Meningitis ACWY Vaccine
This is a single dose vaccine given around age 14.
Travel Health Clinic
Our nursing team offer travel vaccine and Travel Vaccination (available under the NHS). If these are required, we advise patients to book an appointment with our Practice Nurse.
PLEASE ARRANGE YOUR APPOINTMENT 6-8 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE DATE. Our travel service is only available to registered patients at the practice.
Patient’s contacting us with less than adequate notice of their intention to travel will not be seen at the practice for an appointment and will be advised to contact/attend a private travel clinic. You will only be offered a clinic appointment that is a minimum of 10-14 days prior to your departure date.
This is to ensure that any vaccines you need to receive can take effect. Any vaccines received after this time do not allow for sufficient time to produce antibodies against diseases from vaccination.
We regret that our Nurses are unable to routinely offer travel advice over the phone. Please use the Travel Health Pro website (https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries) to find out what vaccinations you may need and to research any travel risks associated with your travel destination. In regards to the schedule of which vaccinations are to be administered and how long vaccines last, please find further information here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/travel-vaccinations/.
Please note that our reception team are not clinically trained and will be unable to advise on what vaccinations you may need for your upcoming travel plans. Please consult a private travel clinic should you wish to discuss your upcoming travel plans prior to your booked appointment or if you are unable to be seen in the practice.
We would thoroughly recommend that all patients planning to travel outside the EU visit the NHS Fit for Travel (https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx) website, it contains a huge amount of useful information on immunisations and healthcare abroad.
We provide the following NHS Travel Vaccinations:
- Hepatitis A (FREE)
- Typhoid (FREE)
- Diptheria/Tetanus/Polio (DTP) (FREE)
- Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) (FREE)
We do not provide the following Private Travel Vaccinations:
- Rabies
- Japanese Encephalitis
- Tick Borne Encephalitis
- Hepatitis B
- Dengue
Antimalarials can be purchased directly from a Pharmacy supplying travel vaccinations.
Please note that we are unable to give you advice ahead of time on the vaccinations listed above. If your travel destination requires that you have any of the vaccinations listed above, you will need to arrange for this separately via a private travel clinic.
Travel vaccinations during pregnancy
For information about travel vaccines, see can I have travel vaccinations during pregnancy?
Flu & Covid Vaccination
Influenza & Covid 19- vaccination
From October to January we offer a free flu and Covid vaccination to all of our patients over the age of 65 and to those in clinical ‘At-Risk’ groups (i.e. asthmatics, diabetics, patients suffering from heart or renal disease).
If you are eligible, our administrative team will contact you each year by text message, phone or letter to offer you an appointment. We hold special weekend clinics as well as other clinics throughout the day to ensure that all our eligible patients can attend at a time that works for them. Appointments are bookable via booking link texted to eligible patients and by calling through to reception.
We are unable to provide flu immunisations privately so if you do not fall into one of the NHS eligible groups, we will be unable to provide you with your flu jab. Local pharmacies provide a private flu immunisation programme.
Children aged between 4 to 11 on 31st of August 2020 (Reception and school years 1 to 11) will have their vaccination under the School vaccination programme and not in General practice. For further information regarding this please contact your child’s School as they will advise when these will be taking place and what to do if your child misses it at school.
Influenza vaccine for Children
Influenza nasal spray will be offered to all 2 and 3 year old children at our Practice.
The school-aged vaccination programme delivers the following routine vaccinations to children in school:
| Vaccination Programme | School year |
| Child influenza | Reception year and years 1-11 |
| HPV | Year 8 & 9 (plus catch ups in older years) |
| Men ACWY | Year 9 (plus catch ups in older years) |
| School leavers booster | Year 9 (plus catch ups in older years) |
Pneumococcal Vaccination
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs, it causes inflammation which can make it difficult to breathe. It can affect people of any age, but it’s more common, and can be more serious, in certain groups of people, such as the very young or the elderly, those with long term conditions such as diabetes and those with a weakened immune system.
What causes pneumonia?
There are many causes of pneumonia, the most common are viruses and bacteria, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) or Streptococcus bacteria.
What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
Pneumonia symptoms can develop suddenly over 24 to 48 hours, or they can come on more slowly over several days. According to the NHS common symptoms are:
- A cough: which may be dry, or produce think yellow, green, brown, or blood-stained mucus (phlegm)
- Difficulty breathing: your breathing may be rapid and shallow, and you may feel breathless, even when resting
- Rapid heartbeat
- Rapid heartbeat
- Feeling generally unwell
- Sweating and shivering
- Loss of appetite
- Chest pain: which gets worse when breathing or coughing
Less common symptoms include:
- Coughing up blood
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Wheezing
- Joint or muscle pain
- Feeling confused and disorientated, particularly in elderly people
If you have a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell, use the 111 online coronavirus service. If you have other symptoms of pneumonia, contact your GP or use the regular 111 online service.
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 at 12 weeks and then again at 12-13 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.
How long before the pneumonia vaccine takes effect?
It can take between 2 to 3 weeks to become fully effective and be immunised from pneumonia.
When should I get the pneumococcal vaccine?
Unlike the flu vaccine, which must be given seasonally, the pneumonia vaccine can be given at any point in the year, as you can develop pneumonia all year round. However, flu season and the winter months is a particularly important time to get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia.
Can I get the flu vaccine and pneumonia vaccine at the same time?
Yes, you can book an appointment with our practice nurse or speak to a member of our reception team to book your flu and pneumonia vaccine.
Do I need to book an appointment?
We recommend you that you book an appointment with our practice nurse by calling our reception team.
What are the pneumonia vaccine side effects?
Like all vaccines, pneumonia vaccines can cause some side effects. Most are mild and get better in a few days. Some patients don’t have any side effects of the vaccine.
The most common side effects are:
- Pain, swelling, hardness or redness where the injection has been given
- Decreased of appetite
- Increase in temperature
- Muscle and joint pains
Very rarely the vaccines may cause a severe allergic reaction. This would normally happen within minutes of receiving the vaccine. Our pharmacist will be prepared to treat you appropriately should this occur.
Can I get the vaccine if I’m feeling unwell?
No, if you’re feeling unwell with a high temperature, we advise that you don’t get the vaccine. If you’ve already booked an appointment and feel unwell, please call your chosen pharmacy to cancel or change to a time when you are feeling better.
Shingles Vaccination
What is Shingles?
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the reactivation of a latent varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection. Primary VZV infection manifests as chickenpox, a highly contagious condition that is characterised by an itchy, vesicular rash. Following this initial infection, the virus enters the dorsal root ganglia and remains there as a permanent, dormant infection. Reactivation of this latent VZV infection, generally occurring decades later, causes shingles.
Common symptoms
The predominant symptom of shingles is pain, often with associated paraesthesia (pricking, tingling or numbness). This is followed by the development of a painful rash, similar in appearance to that of chickenpox, which forms itchy, fluid-filled blisters that usually persist for two to four weeks. These disturbances occur in a unilateral dermatomal distribution, corresponding to the ganglia in which the viral infection is located. Other symptoms may include headache, photophobia, malaise and fever.
Shingles FAQs
How is shingles different to chickenpox?
Although both shingles and chicken pox are caused by VZV, they are two different conditions. The main symptom of chickenpox, which usually occurs in children, is an itchy rash. Shingles, more commonly occurring within the older population, is predominantly characterised by pain.
How common is shingles?
Around 1 in 5 people who have had chickenpox (usually in childhood) go on to develop shingles. That means that 10s of thousands of people in England and Wales will get shingles each year.
How is the shingles vaccine given?
As an injection into the upper arm. You will receive 2 vaccinations at least 2 months apart.
Is there a cure?
There is no cure for shingles. Painkilling medication can be used to relieve the symptoms until the condition resolves (usually within 4 weeks). Associated secondary conditions can prove extremely difficult to treat and may lead to long-term complications.
Who can have the shingles vaccination?
Shingles vaccination is available to all people aged 70 to 79.
In addition, anyone who was previously eligible (born on or after 2 September 1942) but missed out on their shingles vaccination remains eligible until their 80th birthday.
When you’re eligible, you can have the shingles vaccination at any time of year.
The shingles vaccine is not available on the NHS to anyone aged 80 or over because it seems to be less effective in this age group.
Read more about who can have the shingles vaccine.
How do I get the shingles vaccination?
Once you become eligible for the shingles vaccination, your doctor will take the opportunity to vaccinate you when you attend the surgery for general reasons, or for your annual flu vaccination.
You can have it at the same time as your flu jab in the autumn, if you wish.
If you are worried that you may miss out on the shingles vaccination, contact your GP surgery to arrange an appointment to have the vaccine.
Do you need to have the shingles vaccination every year?
No, it’s a one-off course of 2 injections.
Will there be any side effects from the shingles vaccination?
It’s quite common to get redness and discomfort at the vaccination site, as well as headaches, but these side effects should not last more than a few days. See your GP if you have side effects that last longer than a few days, or if you develop a rash after having the shingles vaccination.
Read more about the side effects of the shingles vaccine.
What about people who are not 70 yet? Will they get the shingles vaccine?
Some people will be eligible from 50-70 with certain health conditions or as part of the new shingles programme. You will be contacted by the surgery if you qualify for this. Most people under 70 will get the shingles vaccine during the year following their 70th birthday.
It’s not available on the NHS to younger people because shingles is more common in the over-70s.
The shingles vaccination programme is being staggered this way because it would be impractical to vaccinate everyone in their 70s in a single year.
Why can I not have the shingles vaccination if I’m over 80?
The vaccine does not work as well in people over the age of 80.
For more information on Shingles vaccinations and eligibility please click here.
Pregnancy & Vaccination
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis Booster during pregnancy
A Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (Whooping Cough) booster vaccine should be given in the third trimester of every pregnancy to protect the foetus.
This can help protect their babies by getting vaccinated against whooping cough (pertussis). Having the vaccination helps protect your baby from catching whooping cough in the first few weeks after they’re born, as they will get some of the immunity from you.
The best time to have the whooping cough vaccine is from 16 weeks and best given up to 32 weeks. But if for any reason you miss having the vaccine, you can still have it up until you go into labour.
Read FAQs about whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy.
This vaccination may be offered by your midwife or can be given at the Surgery.
RSV Vaccination
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of coughs and colds. It usually gets better by itself, but it can be serious for some babies and older adults.
Who’s at risk from RSV
RSV is very common. Almost all children get it at least once before they’re 2 years old.
It’s not usually serious, but some babies and adults have a higher risk of getting seriously ill, particularly:
— babies under 6 months old
— children who were born prematurely
— adults over 75 years
— babies, children and older adults with a weakened immune system, or long-term lung or heart conditions
In babies, RSV is a common cause of a type of chest infection called bronchiolitis. This can cause breathing problems and may need to be treated in hospital.
RSV can also cause a serious lung infection (pneumonia) in babies and older adults.
RSV vaccination from September 2024
A vaccine to help protect against RSV will be available on the NHS from 1 September 2024.
You’ll be able to get the vaccine if:
— you’re aged 75 to 79
— you’re 28 weeks pregnant or more – this will help protect your baby for the first few months after they’re born
If you’re aged 75 to 79, your GP surgery will contact you about getting vaccinated. Please wait to be contacted.
From September, you can speak to your maternity service or GP surgery about getting your RSV vaccination if you’re 28 weeks pregnant or more.