News / Flu jabs
PEOPLE aged 65 and over, along with pregnant women are being urged to take up the offer of a free seasonal flu jab.
Each of the GP practices in Shetland will inform their patients about the arrangements for receiving the vaccine this year.
The vaccine is also offered to some children, initially to all two- and three-year-olds.
In addition, 400 children in 17 schools across the isles are taking part in a ‘flu pilot’. Letters and consent forms have been sent to parents.
Lerwick Health Centre patients who are eligible for the vaccination will be invited to attend one of the ‘flu fayres’ at Clickimin Leisure Centre. These will be held on Tuesday 22 October and Tuesday 5 November.
Other health centres are also holding dedicated flu clinics:
- The Scalloway Health Centre clinics started last week but there are some more clinics at the health centre this week; Monday 7 October 5.30 to 7.30pm and Friday 11October 2.30 to 4.30pm;
- All eligible children registered with Scalloway can attend on Friday 18 October 2.30 to 4.30pm;
- Brae Health Centre is holding walk-in clinics for eligible patients registered at Brae on the afternoons (2 to 4pm) of Tuesdays 29 October and 5November; and Thursdays 31 October and 7 November;
- Brae also has drop-in clinics for eligible two- and three-year-olds registered with the practice on Tuesday 8 October and Thursday 10 October, both 2 to 4pm;
- Patients with the Unst Health Centre can attend a walk-in clinic at the Baltasound Hall on Friday 11 October, 9 to 11am;
- Yell Health Centre is holding walk-in clinics for its patients at local public halls: Mid Yell hall on Thursday 24 October 2 to 4pm and Wednesday 6 November 2 to 4pm;
- Burravoe hall on Monday 28 October 2 to 4pm;
- and Cullivoe hall Tuesday 29 October 2 to 4pm.
Patients registered with any of the other health centres / GP practices should contact their own practice, or look out for local publicity to find out how to get their flu jab.
Consultant in public health medicine Dr Susan Laidlaw said: “The vaccine helps to protect people who are more vulnerable to flu and the complications of flu, including people over 65, those with certain medical conditions and pregnant women.
“Flu can also be very serious for children, particularly the youngest ones who have little or no immunity to the infection, which is why a new childhood flu immunisation programme is being rolled out.
“Most children will have the nasal spray vaccine, as this works better in children than the injections. And it has the added benefit of making it as simple as possible for children to get vaccinated and be protected.”
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