‘Come when you’re called’ - ‘flu and COVID-19 vaccination in Grampian
Published: 14/09/2023 08:59The autumn vaccination programme for 2023 is in full swing across Grampian and the message this year is ‘come when you’re called’.
Pauline Merchant, Clinical Lead Nurse for the vaccination programme, said: “The recent discovery of a new COVID-19 variant – BA.2.86 - highlights the risk this virus still poses. ‘Flu meanwhile continues to be a very serious illness and I want to encourage everyone eligible for immunisation to take up the offer when invited.”
Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisation (JCVI) earlier this year, the order in which people were called was adjusted. Those aged 75+ and/or living in older adult care homes were due to receive their jabs a little later, to ensure maximum protection over the festive period. With confirmation of a new COVID-19 variant, health boards have been advised to take a precautionary approach and bring forward these groups, where possible. Vaccination teams are working flexibly to support earlier immunisation; there will be variation in how this will be applied across Aberdeen City, Moray, and Aberdeenshire. Everyone eligible for vaccination will have been invited to get their jabs by early December.
Jo Hall, Vaccination Programme Manager, said: “I know everyone eligible for vaccination is keen to know when they will get their jabs. Appointment letters for those aged 75+ should arrive through letterboxes in the coming fortnight. If appointments aren’t convenient, they may be rescheduled by using the booking website or by calling the national appointment line. Details on how to do this are included in appointment letters. I would ask people not to call into vaccination centres; they won’t be able to arrange appointments and need to focus on delivering immunisation.”
Alongside a vaccination programme for adults, children aged 2-5, and primary and secondary school pupils are being offered ‘flu vaccination.
Dr Clare-Louise Walker, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, said: “All consent forms for vaccination at school are now out, so I’d encourage parents or carers to get those forms completed and returned to their school as quickly as possible. Invitations have also been sent to the parents of those aged 2-5 years. ‘Flu can be a serious illness at any age, and ensuring your child is immunised not only protects them, but everyone around them, from relatives to teachers or nursery workers.”
Pauline added: “Once again this is a huge undertaking, managed by a small but extremely dedicated team. We estimate some 400,000 people in Grampian will be eligible for either a ‘flu jab, or ‘flu and COVID-19 vaccination. I’d repeat our key message: come when you are called.”
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Full information about the vaccination programme, including who is eligible, is available on Winter vaccines | NHS inform
NHS Grampian, in common with all health boards, follows the guidance of the Joint Committee on Vaccinations & Immunisations (JCVI) when delivering vaccination programmes.
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 are detailed in Chapter 19 of the Green Book The Green book of immunisation - chapter 19 influenza (publishing.service.gov.uk)