Arrangements for Autumn/Winter 2022 vaccination programme

Published: 29/08/2022 11:00

Arrangements for Autumn/Winter 2022 vaccination programme

Final preparations are being made as NHS Grampian and the Health & Social Care Partnerships (H&SCPs) in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and Moray get ready to begin this year’s ‘flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

The programme will begin on 5 September; the health board and H&SCPs are aiming to offer everyone eligible an appointment by early December. Appointments will, in the main, take place in local vaccination centres. The general public are reminded GP practices no longer have any role in vaccination.

Jo Hall, NHS Grampian’s Vaccination Programme Lead said: “There is always a great deal of interest in this programme and we are grateful so many people are keen to take up the offer of vaccination and protect themselves. This year an estimated 400,000 thousand people locally will be eligible for one – or both – vaccinations.

“It is important people wait for their appointment; it is not possible to drop-in for these vaccinations. As in previous years, the programme will start with those who are oldest and most at risk, then move through the other cohorts. If the appointment offered isn’t suitable, it can be rearranged, but not for any earlier than Monday 19 September. Remember, when rearranging an appointment, it must be at least 12 weeks since your last COVID-19 jab. If it’s less than 12 weeks, we cannot vaccinate you, although you can still receive your flu jab at this time.

“Anyone coming to our vaccination centres will be asked to wear a fluid repellent face mask. These are clinical places where we must do everything we can to protect both staff and other patients, and enhanced infection prevention and control measures remain in place. Masks will be available at all venues.”

The following groups of children/young people will be eligible for ‘flu vaccination:

  • All children aged from 6 months to 2 years in clinical risk groups
  • All children aged 2-5 years (not yet at school, children must be aged 2 years or above on 1 September 2022)
  • All primary school children (primary one to primary seven) at school
  • All secondary school pupils (years one to six) at school
  • Children in the eligible age groups who are home educated will also be contacted and offered vaccination

Pauline Merchant, Clinical Lead Nurse, Vaccination Programme, said: “Primary and secondary pupils will be offered their vaccination in school. Information will be sent to parents/carers from their school in the coming weeks so I would encourage them to look out for this and to return consent forms where required. We will be in touch directly with the parents/carers of all other children to offer them appointments at one of our vaccination centres. As in previous years, most children and young people will receive their flu immunisation in the form of a nasal spray.

“COVID-19 vaccinations for children and young people are not being offered in schools and this programme continues separately.”

The following groups of adults will be eligible for a ‘flu vaccination:

  • All adults aged 50+ (including those resident in care homes, or who are housebound)
  • All health & social care staff (including independent contractors, like GPs, dentists, optometrists, and community pharmacists)
  • Anyone who is pregnant
  • Teachers and pupil-facing support staff
  • Prison staff and the prison population
  • Unpaid carers
  • Anyone aged 16-64 with a health condition which puts them at greater risk of ‘flu (see Notes to Editors)
  • People who live with someone who is immunocompromised

Appointment letters are already arriving with those aged 65+, starting with the oldest. They will be invited to attend a local vaccination centre. The same process will be followed for people with an underlying health condition. People who live in care homes for older adults or who are housebound will get a direct visit, while teachers and pupil-facing support staff will have the opportunity to be vaccinated at school clinics at the end of the day. Separate arrangements are being made to offer immunisation to prison staff and the prison population, and those working in health & social care.

All other groups – those aged 50-64 and not in another eligible category, unpaid carers, and people who live with someone who is immunocompromised – will receive a letter in due course telling them when they can book an appointment, either online via the national booking portal or by telephoning the national appointment line on 0800 030 8013. They should not contact vaccination teams until they receive that letter.

In addition, a COVID-19 booster is being offered to the following groups:

  • All adults aged 50+ (including those resident in care homes, or who are housebound)
  • All frontline, patient facing, health & social care staff (as per JCVI guidance)
  • Anyone who is pregnant
  • Unpaid carers
  • people aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group (see Notes to Editors)
  • people aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
  • people aged 16 to 49 years who are carers (see Notes to Editors)

Pauline added: “Not everyone who is eligible for a ‘flu jab will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. However, where people are eligible for both, these will be administered at the same appointment wherever possible. It must be at least 12 weeks since their last COVID-19 jab.”

Notes:

The Green Book has the latest information on vaccines and vaccination procedures in the UK. Tables 3 and 4 in Chapter 14a contain the definition of clinical risk groups and carers eligible for the COVID-19 booster: COVID-19 Greenbook chapter 14a (publishing.service.gov.uk)

The clinical risk groups eligible for flu vaccination is available in Chapter 19 of the Green Book: The Green book of immunisation - chapter 19 influenza (publishing.service.gov.uk)