Woodhill Surgery are pleased to advise that Flu vaccine appointments are now available. The injected flu vaccine is offered free of charge on the NHS to people who are at risk. The GPs greatly encourage eligible patients to book into one of our clinics so please call 873000.

Flu is an unpredictable virus that can cause mild or unpleasant illness in most people. It can cause severe illness and even death among vulnerable groups including older people, pregnant women and people with an underlying health condition.

You are eligible to receive a free flu jab if you are 65 years of age or over; are pregnant; have certain medical conditions; are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility; receive a carer’s allowance, or you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill. Front-line health and social care workers are also eligible to receive the flu vaccine. It is your employer’s responsibility to arrange and pay for this vaccine.

Pregnant women and the flu jab – If you’re pregnant, you’re advised to have the flu vaccine, regardless of the stage of pregnancy you’ve reached because there’s strong evidence to suggest pregnant women have an increased risk of developing complications if they get flu particularly in the later stages of pregnancy. It will help protect your baby as they will continue to have some immunity to flu for the first few months of their life. It’s safe to have the flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy from conception onwards. Talk to your GP, midwife or pharmacist if you want more information.

Flu vaccine for children – The flu vaccine is free on the NHS for children over the age of six months with a long-term health condition; children aged two and three on 31 August 2017; children in reception class and school years one, two, three and four. Children eligible for the flu vaccine aged between two and 17 will usually have the flu vaccine nasal spray.