Dear Patients

We wanted to take this opportunity to inform you of our plans for the current flu season. Please do not call to book your appointment yet, we will send you a text message when your vaccine has been delivered and a clinic is available.

We are planning to carry out a full vaccination programme at the surgery, in Chorlton Health Centre, as usual. We will of course be adhering to physical distancing guidance and careful hygiene measures in order to make sure you receive your vaccination safely, and we want to take this opportunity to reassure you that it is perfectly safe to come into the surgery.

Because of the necessary restrictions in place due to COVID 19, we will be running flu clinics over weekends, when the building is empty. For this reason it is very important that you attend at your allotted clinic time, or let us know if you cannot so that we can reschedule.

We will also be offering other vaccinations at the same time, such as pneumonia and shingles, for those eligible.

Children will be offered vaccination through their school or in the Surgery as follows. It is important to note that this vaccination is given as a painless nasal spray, and not using a needle.

•  All those aged 2 and 3 years old on 31st August 2020 (date of birth on or aLer 1st September 2016 and on or before 31st August 2018) will be offered the flu vaccine in at the surgery in Chorlton Health Centre
• All primary school children and year 7 of secondary school (date of birth on or aLer 1stSeptember 2008 and on or before 31st August 2016) will be offered the flu vaccine at school through the local schools vaccination team

As always, our plans are dependent on when the stock of the vaccinations arrive. As you may have heard, the Government have expanded the flu programme this year to include healthcare workers, families of those who have been shielding, and everyone over the age of 50.

In order to vaccinate as many people as possible, and because we expect supply in several deliveries, we will call patients in the following order from late September (pending timely delivery of the vaccine):

Over 65s, and people age 5 – 64 with underlying health conditions

•  People in these groups usually receive an annual flu vaccination here at the surgery and will be contacted as normal by text or phone in the first round of vaccinations
• Please ensure that you bring a mask or face covering with you, and please attend for your allotted session