Autumn Flu and Covid Programme 2023/24
Both the Flu and Covid vaccination season has started earlier than originally announced due to rises of both diseases in the UK.
The vaccinating of patients at the surgery will only be open to does who are classed as clinically @ risk as confirmed by the JCVI with no exceptions.
Definition of clinically at risk as below:
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- All adults aged 65 years and over
- Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book, COVID-19 Chapter (Green Book), Immunisations Green Book Influenza Chapter (Green book).
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts (as defined in the Green Book) of people with immunosuppression
- Persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (as defined in the Green Book) and staff working in care homes for older adults.
- Children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023 (born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021) for Flu vaccination.
The Practice will be running dedicated clinics for all eligible patients over the coming weeks and invitations via SMS messaging to patients have already started to go out. We ask all who are eligible and have received their invites to either book yourselves in using the link provided in the SMS message or by calling the practice between 10am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
Patients aged 18 plus and within a clinical risk groups will be offered both the Covid and Flu vaccination at the same time, so you will only need to book one appointment if having both either or. Patients under 18 will be offered the nasal flu vaccination unless clinically contraindicated, where we will be able to offer an alternative but only if clinically they are unable to have the nasal vaccine.
If you are aged 65 or over, please be aware invitations for your age group have not yet been sent and will be sent in the coming week so please bear with us and await your invitation.
Patients who are classed as Housebound, will be called to confirm if they wish to take up the offer of the vaccinations and will then be contacted at a later date to confirm when they will be immunised at their place of residence. Vaccinations will be done by the community nursing team.
Patients who we are unable to contact via SMS messaging due to no mobile number or change in contact details that we are unaware of, will be contacted by the practice via telephone, letter or
email in the coming week to offer both Flu and Covid vaccinations for adults or just the flu vaccination for under 18’s.
If you do not wish to have either vaccination this year, we ask for you to let us know either by responding through your invite link, sending us an admin query https://florey.accurx.com/p/H85114 or by letting us know when we call you, this will allow us to ensure your records are updated with this information and so we can remove you from our reminder Campaigns (SMS/Calls).
This does not stop you in the future of changing your mind and taking up the offer of the vaccines, it just stops us from sending or making opportunistic communications regarding the vaccinations.
If you are unable to attend our dedicated clinic dates, you can also book through the national systems for both Flu and Covid:
Covid Booking system
Flu booking system
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/book-flu-vaccination/
OR Alternately contact your local pharmacy.
School aged children with no Clinical risk – Parents/ legal guardians, your child will be offered the Vaccination as part of the Governments School programme, please seek advice from your childs school as to when they will be offered the vaccination at their school or where/when they will run local clinics if they are unable to have it at school. If your Child is home schooled and you wish for them to have the flu vaccine, please contact the surgery to obtain further information as to your options.
For further information regarding either the flu or Covid vaccination please check out the NHS website.
Covid - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/covid-19-vaccination/
Flu Adult- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/
Flu Children - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/child-flu-vaccine/
Covid-19 Spring Booster Vaccination
Covid-19 Spring Booster Vaccination
Get vaccinated in Wandsworth. Get protected.
You can walk in to a vaccination pop up clinic. Pop up clinics are available for:
- Those aged 12 and over
- 1st and 2nd Covid-19 vaccine doses
- Spring Booster Vaccine (adults aged 75 years and over, residents in a care home for older adults and individuals aged 5 years and over who are immunosuppressed)
17 April to 30 June 2023
Mondays
- All Saints Church, Putney Common, London SW15 1HL (1.30pm to 4.50pm) (closed on Monday 1 and Monday 8 May)
Tuesdays
- All Saints Church, Putney Common, London SW15 1HL (1.30pm to 4.50pm )
- Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton Lane SW15 5PN (9am to 1pm)
Thursdays
- Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton Lane SW15 5PN (9am to 1pm)
For the full poster of this information, click here.
COVID-19 abroad vaccinations
Tell the NHS about coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations you have had abroad
This service enables you to book an appointment to show evidence for any coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations you’ve had outside of England. This is so the NHS can securely update your vaccination record.
Who can use this service:
• are aged 18 years old or over
• have an NHS number
• have received one of these MHRA-approved vaccines outside of England – Oxford/AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty), Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) or Moderna (Spikevax)
COVID Passport & Certificates
If you have received your COVID vaccine abroad, we cannot provide a COVID passport.
For more details please visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-covid-pass or call 119
Why are GP practices working differently?
GP practices are open but the pandemic is not over
In South West London there are still thousands of people getting Covid-19 every week, with many being admitted into hospital and some into intensive care. Local GP practices treated people throughout the Covid lockdowns and continue to do so. We must make sure our practices are safe for our staff and protect patients who need to attend in person.
How are practices working now?
When people need seeing face to face this should happen as quickly and safely as possible and it is important that people are assessed first to decide who needs:
- to be seen in person by one of the team
- a phone consultation
- a video consultation
- help from a community pharmacy or another health service
We also want to avoid asking people to travel to practices, where they may come into contact with unwell or infectious people, when this is not essential.
How can I contact my GP?
You can still telephone your GP practice but, if your practice offers it and you are able to, the best thing to do is to use an online service on the practice website. You will then be contacted with the best appointment for you.
If you need help with minor injuries at any time or urgent care when your GP practice or pharmacy is closed visit 111.nhs.uk or dial 111. 111 can also book out of hours appointments.
You can access NHS 111, contact your practice and get your Covid Pass using the NHS App. Search NHS App in your app store.
Why do receptionists ask personal questions?
GP reception staff are skilled professionals and ask questions to make sure you see the right person at the right time and treat all information confidentially. If you don’t want to speak on the phone, you can use the online service on the practice website, if your practice offers this.
I wanted to see my GP, so why am I seeing someone else?
Many GP practices now include a range of professionals like physician’s associates, nurses, practice pharmacists and paramedics who can help you. This means you can often be seen more quickly and if you then need to be seen by your GP they will organise this for you.
Where else can I get help?
Always dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
Visit www.nhs.uk for advice on common symptoms and a list of local services or speak to your community pharmacist first for advice on minor illnesses nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy.
Covid Vaccination Programme
COVID Vaccination Update – 12/03/2021
Thurleigh Road Practice – part of the Clapham junction health centre vaccination team
Please be aware we are working our hardest to ensure all patients in groups 1-6 have had the opportunity to have their Covid vaccination at our vaccination hub and as we are sure you are aware this is a huge task to undertake, we have already invited all those in groups 1-6. Any patient within these groups who have not had the vaccine as of yet and now wishes to take up the offer can arrange this through the Covid Vaccination National Service.
Patient in groups 7-8 (Ages 55-64), should have received a letter from the NHS to book your vaccination through the national service. Please ensure you book your appointment by following the instructions in the letter.
Patients in group 9 (Ages 50-54) will start to be invited to our local vaccination hub in the next couple of weeks, invites will mainly go out via text message and you will either receive a text message with how to book (if we have your correct mobile contact details) or we will call you within due course to arrange your vaccination. If you have any further questions regarding the Covid vaccination or having problems booking your vaccination please call the practice after 10am and we will endeavour to deal with your concern as quickly as possible.
Covid Vaccination National Service
All Patients who are in groups 1-8 can now also book their vaccination through the national Covid vaccination centres.
You can only use this service if any of the following apply:
• you are aged 55 or over
• you have previously received a letter saying you are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
• you are an eligible frontline health worker
• you are an eligible frontline social care worker
• you get Carer’s Allowance – find out more about Carer’s Allowance on GOV.UK
You can book via the NHS website – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
In the meantime, more information about the Covid-19 vaccine can be found here.
Battersea COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – Volunteers Needed
We Need YOU – We are currently planning for an effective Covid-19 vaccination programme in Battersea.
We are working very hard with other local Battersea GP practices to get this essential service up and running for our local population by the beginning of January 2021. However, the scale and pace of the Covid-19 vaccination programme will require additional support and we are looking for volunteers to help to ensure the programme runs safely, smoothly and efficiently.
If you would like to contribute to the success of our local Covid-19 vaccination programme at The Junction Health Centre as a steward, please email: swlccg.covidvacc@nhs.net
Thank you.
Adult Proxy Access