Stable Fold Surgery

Coronavirus Vaccine Programme update

A massive thank you to all the Westhoughton patients, staff and volunteers.

Please see below for the current information as of 15/12/2021.

Following the government announcement this week we are increasing our vaccine capacity. This will require some routine GP services to be paused while we concentrate on the vaccination programme. We appreciate your ongoing understanding.

As a PCN we are concentrating on vaccinating our most vulnerable groups and have been contacting them in priority order.

There are three ways to get vaccinated

- You are contacted by your local GP practice either via phone or text to make an appointment (please don’t ring us)

- You can attend a walk in site across Bolton (see website for up to date clinics) provided you meet eligibility criteria Coronavirus udates and advice | Bolton CCG

- You can book via national booking service (all >18s will be able to do this from 18/12/21) Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

COVID BOOSTER

To be eligible for your covid booster you should be at least 3 months (91 days) since your second immunisation. If you have not had your flu jab we will co-administer this for maximum protection.

If you go to a site alternative to your GP and do not receive your flu jab and want one please contact our vaccine hotline numbers (criteria here Flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk))

All patients will be given Pfizer or Moderna as a booster- regardless of which vaccine you had for the original doses.

If you are immunocompromised and eligible for a 3rd primary dose or booster and haven’t been contacted then please contact our hotline number.

We continue to run searches on our patients who will be coming up to being eligible for their booster and we will text them with a link to make an appointment. If there is no mobile number available we will attempt to proactively contact patients by phone.

We are now able to offer boosters to anyone who meets the above criteria and are OVER 18- though patients are being invited in priority order.

If you have a mobile and don’t have access to the internet on your phone and have not received a phone call (and you are >3months) then you can TEXT “Booster” your INITIALS and DATE OF BIRTH to our hotline number 07587 554149 and we will get back to you (may be a private number).

FIRST and SECOND DOSES

If you are currently eligible and have not had or arranged your first or second vaccine yet please text “COVID” plus YOUR INITIALS and DATE OF BIRTH to the vaccine hotline number 07587 554149 and we will contact you with an appointment/ discussion (this may be a call from a ‘private number’). If you are unable to text, please contact the surgery directly.

There has been recent new guidance that our well 16/17 year olds who originally given one vaccination are now eligible for a second.

They should be 12 weeks post first vaccine. If you are under 18 and have had covid, advice states you should wait 12 weeks post infection before having your vaccination.

We will be actively inviting this group via text (this will go to the mobile number we have for you, remember this may be your parent/ guardian).

If you are 16/17 with an underlying health problem then you remain eligible for a second vaccination after 8 weeks as per previous guidance.

HOUSEBOUND PATIENTS

If you are truly housebound and in these groups (waiting for 1st/2nd or booster) then we are currently contacting these patients to arrange a home visit vaccine. It is very difficult to safely transport vaccine so we politely ask that where at all possible you attend the surgery for your vaccine. We have the opportunity to vaccinate in the car if needed. Please contact us on the hotline number if you deem yourself to be housebound and are overdue any vaccines.

Where possible, please do not contact the surgery with vaccine queries as it stops poorly patients getting through on the phone. For general vaccine queries you can ask via online consult using the following link

https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/stable-fold-surgery

Please follow our social media for the most up to date information regarding our vaccination programme.

Westhoughton PCN Facebook

Westhoughton PCN Twitter

Once again, a huge thank you to everyone involved in this, the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history.

Coronavirus vaccination certificate

We are currently unable to issue this certificate at the practice. Please see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad for further information. Proof of your vaccination status will be available on the NHSapp, (which is also valuable for things like ordering repeat prescriptions) The NHSapp can be downloaded from https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/nhs-app/id1388411277 for iPhone or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhs.online.nhsonline for android. Alternatively you can call the NHS helpline on 119 (from 17 May 2021) and ask for a letter to be posted to you. This must be at least 5 days after you have completed your course of the vaccine and the letter may to take up to 5 days to reach you. Kind regards

The Partners at Stable Fold Surgery.

The surgery are encouraging all patients were possible to sign up for our online services to enable you to order your repeat medications, you can email the request or post it through the letter box please see below for online services. We are no longer accepting requests over the phone unless you are genuinely housebound

INFLUENZA (FLU):

Don’t let the flu get you or your family

It’s important that you protect yourself and your family this winter.

Both Covid-19 and flu will be around at the same time and you don’t want to come down with either – or both.

The flu vaccine won’t protect you against Covid and vice versa, so if eligible you’ll need both vaccines this winter for the best protection against both viruses.

You can’t get flu from the vaccine and getting vaccinated will help to protect you and your child from becoming seriously ill.

It will also reduce the pressure on your NHS in Bolton and help to protect your community.

Some of the symptoms of Covid-19 and flu are similar, so if you have a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or you notice a change or loss in your sense of taste or smell – you must book a coronavirus PCR test.

What exactly is flu? Influenza (flu) is a serious disease caused by a virus. It’s not just a bad cold! Sometimes, flu can develop into something worse and it kills thousands of people each year.

It spreads through coughs and sneezes, by touching things like door handles, then touching your face, directly through saliva or nose secretions (snot!)

That’s why it’s important to wash your hands properly and ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ using a tissue. If you don’t have a tissue handy, use the inside of your elbow!

How can I avoid getting flu? Your best defence against flu is vaccination – you need one every year. It helps your immune system to fight off the virus, reducing your chances of getting flu and spreading it to other people.

If you do get flu, it will reduce the severity of your infection and reduce the chances of you having to go to hospital. It could save your life!

The flu vaccine is FREE for: those aged 50 and over, pregnant women, those with a long-term health condition (e.g. diabetes, COPD, kidney, heart or lung disease)* , two and three year olds, pupils in Reception to Year 11, health and care workers , carers

* check with your GP if you’re eligible.

Anyone not entitled to a free vaccine can still get protected at their local pharmacy for £10 to £15.

Please wear a face covering during your vaccination appointment.

Reception to Year 11 pupils receive a free flu nasal spray via their school health programme. Two and three year olds can have the nasal spray at their GP practice.

The nasal spray is quick and painless – no injection is needed – and it has an excellent safety record. It will help to protect not only your child against flu and serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia, but your loved ones and those close to you.

The children’s nasal spray can’t cause flu either. After having the nasal spray, some children might get a runny or blocked nose but this is mild in comparison to them having flu.

Having flu while pregnant can also put you and your unborn child at risk. The flu vaccine will help to protect you both.

Pregnant women are also advised to have the Covid-19 vaccine. Both the Covid-19 and flu vaccines can be taken at any stage of pregnancy.

I’ve got flu – what should I do? stay at home and rest until you feel better, keep warm/drink plenty of water, take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and to help with aches and pains, you should start to feel better after a week, antibiotics will not work against flu as it is a viral infection

Like Covid, flu is highly contagious so stay at home to avoid infecting others who may become more poorly than you. If you’re worried about symptoms, contact your GP online or by phone.