Flu Campaign 2022/23

The national Autumn COVID-19 & Flu vaccination programme begins in September. This years flu campaign at York Medical Group will be working slightly differently than previous years.

Adult

For the last two flu seasons the vaccination programme was extended to include more groups than were eligible than in previous years. Although flu activity was low in the previous two seasons it may be higher this year due to non-pharmaceutical measures being lifted such as social distancing, mask wearing, school closures and shielding. This means that more of the population will be susceptible to flu this year, so it is important to receive your vaccine.

Flu vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to reduce harm from flu and avoid placing extra pressures on health and social care services during winter.

Many groups of people eligible for flu vaccines are also eligible for other vaccinations such as COVID-19 boosters, Pneumonia and Shingles.

If you are aged 65 years or over, you are entitled to receive a vaccination to protect you against Pneumonia. You will be sent a text or letter invitation to attend one of the York Medical Group surgeries to receive your pneumonia and flu vaccine together.

From your 70^th birthday up to your 80^th birthday you are entitled to receive a vaccination to protect you against shingles. You will be sent a text or letter invitation to attend one of the York Medical group surgeries to receive both your vaccines at the same time.

You will separately need to attend the Askham Bar Community Care centre to receive your COVID-19 booster. You will be invited, by Nimbuscare, to make an appointment for this.

People who require only flu vaccines will be invited by text or letter to attend the Nimbuscare, Askham Bar Community Care Centre to receive this along with a COVID-19 booster.

Adults aged 50-64 who are not in a clinical risk category will be invited to attend for their flu  vaccination after the 15^th October 2022 and should await a text or letter invitation to make an appointment.

Children

Children aged 2 & 3 years old by the 31^st August 2022 will receive a text or letter invitation to make an appointment to receive a flu vaccination at York Medical Group.

If your child turns 2 within the 2022/2023 flu season they will not be eligible until the next flu season.

Clinics will be held on the 15^th October 2022 at Acomb and Tower Court surgeries and on 12^th November at Tower Court and Monkgate surgeries.

Primary school children between the ages of 4-10 years on the 31^{st of} August 2022 will be vaccinated in school which will be co-ordinated by the school immunisation teams.

Secondary school children, between the ages of 11-13 years on the 31^{st of} August 2022 will be vaccinated in school which will be co-ordinated by the school immunisation teams.

Children aged 14-15years on the 31^{st of} August may be vaccinated later in the season, depending on vaccine availability.