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We are holding flu clinics during autumn/winter to ensure everyone who is eligible recieves their flu jab.
Make sure you keep checking on Patient Access for available appointment slots.
You can either book online or phone 0191 488 3200 for an appointment.
The vaccine is free for those at most risk from the flu:
For those that don’t meet the criteria to have a flu jab free on the NHS, continuing to follow the COVID "hands, face, space, & fresh air" advice will also help in the fight against flu this winter.
But the ongoing pandemic and uncertainty over what will happen to COVID numbers over the autumn means that we are going to continue to follow the COVID safe processes introduced to last year's flu clinics to keep our staff and more vulnerable patients safe.
→Book an appointment: Our flu clinics will again be prebooked, both on the Saturdays and during the normal working week. This worked really well last year, particularly helping us match stock availability and to reduce queuing. Please make sure you book into the right appointment type (they will be called "Over 65 flu", "Under 65 flu" or "children flu")
→Phone in an afternoon to book, or book online: Booking online will give you the greatest choice of flu appointments and reduce pressure on the phone lines. If you are not already registered for our online services, why not try the NHS App available from App Store or Google Play. Its simple to download and get started (though note that if you want access to your medical record you will need to bring ID to the practice.)
→Wear a short sleeved top: For the flu clinics, if the weather allows, wear a light jacket that can be easily removed, and a short sleeved top underneath. This will help keep the flu clinics moving. If this isn’t going to be possible, please tell reception that you need extra time and they will book you into a slightly longer slot.
→Arrive on time: Don’t arrive more than 5 minutes early for your flu clinic appointment. If you do you may be asked to wait in the car park until your appointment time to ensure we maintain social distancing in the building.
→Leave Time to Park: The Saturday flu clinics are very busy so for everyone’s safety we may close part of the car park to help manage any queue. Please do be good neighbours and park in the surrounding area considerately.
→Be “COVID-safe”: Although restrictions have eased, given the ongoing uncertainty we still ask patients to stay away if you have COVID symptoms, keep 2m from each other, follow directions in surgery, wear a mask, use the hand cleaning facilities available and turn your head from the nurse or doctor when we come close to give your vaccine.
We will be offering the vaccine to patients we see in surgery as well as our prebooked flu clinics.
We are working with neighbouring practices and the community services to ensure that housebound patients receive their Flu Jab and COVID-19 Booster vaccine as soon as possible.
If you are housebound and haven't already been contacted by us, please phone the practice so we can refer you to the district nurses.
For patients who aren't housebound, if you are offered both the Flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines, it's safe to have them at the same time.
However you can only recieve the flu vaccine from Sunniside or your local pharmacy, and your COVID-19 vaccine from Blaydon Sure Start Centre on Shibdon Road.
Click the link below to book an appointment if you have had a text message to say that you are eligible or you are a frontline health and social care worker.
Injection:
Some people have a mild temperature or muscle aches for a few days after the vaccine. You may also be sore at the site of the injection.
Serious side effects, such as allergic reactions are extremely rare. The injection form does not contain any live virus; you cannot catch the flu from it.
Nasal Spray:
Wherever stocks allow, we will be offering the nasal spray vaccine for those aged 2-17 years. In addition to mild aches and pains, the nasal spray can cause a runny nose for a couple of days.
Occasionally the flu vaccine can cause a mild temperature; in small children temperature fits have been reported (these are harmless and do not cause epilepsy.)
Let the doctor or nurse know if you have had a serious allergy to egg; we will order you a special vaccine. If you have a fever, it is probably wise to delay the vaccine until you have recovered.
During the flu clinic we normally offer eligible patients their pneumococcal or shingles vaccines at the same time as the flu vaccine. Whether we are able to do so this year will depend on the COVID vaccination booster programme and how long a gap is needed between the different vaccines. If we are not able to offer the vaccine at the same time as the flu jab, we will endeavour to arrange a catch up campaign later in the autumn.
If you are not sure whether you are eligible or have had either of these vaccines, please contact the surgery.
PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE:
The Pneumococcal vaccine protects against a bacteria that is one of the common causes of serious pneumonia. It also causes other infections such as meningitis and so is now part of the children's vaccination schedule.
It is offered to anyone aged 65 years or over, or who has one of the long term conditions listed above. (For most patients it is a one-off vaccine, but for patients with problems with their spleen or chronic kidney problems a booster is normally needed every 5 years.
SHINGLES:
Patients aged 70- 79 at the time of the injection are eligible for the shingles vaccine, if they have not had it before. It is a one off vaccine that helps protect against shingles which affects people more commonly and more severely as they get older. You should not have it though if you have a problem with your immune system.
