Broad Street Medical Centre

What is Flu?

Flu is a common infectious viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes. It can be very unpleasant, but you’ll usually begin to feel better within about a week.

You can catch flu – short for influenza – all year round, but it’s especially common in winter, which is why it’s also known as “seasonal flu”.

It’s not the same as the common cold. Flu is caused by a different group of viruses and the symptoms tend to start more suddenly, be more severe and last longer.

Some of the main symptoms of flu include:

· a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above

· tiredness and weakness

· a headache

· general aches and pains

· a dry, chesty cough

Cold-like symptoms – such as a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, and a sore throat – can also be caused by flu, but they tend to be less severe than the other symptoms you have.

Flu can make you feel so exhausted and unwell that you have to stay in bed and rest until you feel better.

Key Points to our Flu program

When our Flu Programme does start: 29th September 2022 (slots available to book from 15th September 2022)

When our Flu Program does ends: 31st March 2023

Which patients are eligible for the jab:

· Anyone over the age of 50 – regardless of health condition

· Anyone who is pregnant

· Anyone under the age of 50 and in the ‘At Risk’ group (ie COPD, Asthma, Diabetes)

· The children’s nasal spray flu vaccine is given to:

· Children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2022 (born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2020)

· All primary school children

· some secondary school children

· children aged 2 to 17 with certain health conditions

·Patients aged 6mths – 2 years old and at clinical risk administer QIVe.

·Patients aged 2 years – 18 years old administer LAIV unless contraindicated then administer QIVc.

Flu clinic will be running each day including some Saturday – slots will be available to book. Please ensure all children aged 5 and below are booked with the Nurse only.

Clinical staff will be doing jabs within normal appointments, so if a patient has a

How we are inviting patients to book

1. We will be trying self-booking system

a. All eligible patients (18 and above) will receive a text inviting them to book in via text message

b. If the patient books in then an appointment is automatically booked

2. We will be calling patients to book them in, especially children as they will not be included in the self-booking

3. Letters will be sent out to patients to call to book in

4. Recall and follow up DNA and non- responders