Vaccinations

One of the most important things that a parent can do for their child is to make sure that they have all their routine childhood vaccinations. It’s the most effective way of keeping them protected against infectious diseases.

Ideally, children should have their jabs at the right age to protect them as early as possible and minimise the risk of infection.

Find out which jabs your child needs, when they need them, and what the benefits of each jab are. Your child’s ‘Red Book’ has a list of the immunisation  schedule they should follow. Please bring it with you to your child’s appointment so the nurse can update their book.

Please call the surgery on 01405 631271 to make an appointment.

Useful links

NHS Choice – Vaccinations for you and your family

Seasonal flu is a highly infectious illness caused by a flu virus.

The virus infects your lungs and upper airways, causing a sudden high temperature and general aches and pains.

You could also lose your appetite, feel nauseous and have a dry cough. Symptoms can last for up to a week.

We offer ‘at risk’ groups the flu vaccine at a certain time each year to protect you against the flu virus.

You may be invited for a flu jab if you are:

over 65 years of age

pregnant

or have:

a serious heart or chest complaint, including asthma

serious kidney disease

diabetes

lowered immunity due to disease or treatment such as steroid medication or cancer treatment

if you have ever had a stroke

If you have any queries please contact the surgery.

For more information please visit the websites below:

Useful Links

Flu and the Flu Vaccine – NHS Choices

The pneumococcal vaccine (or ‘pneumo jab’ or pneumonia vaccine as it’s also known) protects against pneumococcal infections.

Pneumococcal infections are caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and can lead to pneumonia, septicaemia (a kind of blood poisoning) and meningitis.

Read more about why the pneumococcal vaccination is needed.

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

Read more about who should have the pneumo jab.

How often is the pneumococcal vaccine given?

Babies receive the pneumococcal vaccine as three separate injections, at 2 months, 4 months and 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.

In order to assist us to make a full assessment of the potential risks to your health from your planned travel please book an appointment with our Practice Nurse. Ideally, this appointment should be made as soon as you book your holiday so that you will have time to complete the immunisation schedule needed to protect you.

At your appointment we may ask the following questions to help us plan for your trip:-

When are you departing and for how long?

Where are you going, including the destinations within a country?

Where are you staying, e.g. backpacking, camping, hotels?

Are you planning to undertake any high risk activities?

Have you taken out travel insurance and have you informed the company of any existing medical condition?

If female and of child bearing age, is there any possibility you could be pregnant, or are you planning a pregnancy?

Do you have any medical conditions, or a history of significant medical illness? (these can influence the choice of malaria tablets we recommend)

It would help us greatly if you had some awareness of the travel problems that you may be at risk from on your trip before you come for your appointment.

Useful links

Fit for Travel

NaTHNaC