Kids’ flu jabs continue despite shortage
a spotlight on the good work done at the GP.
He said: “I think we should make the most of it. It was a great service.
“[The surgery closure] was unfortunate.
“The doctors and staff served our community very well and we have to respect them for that.
“It is a service but they are trying to run a profitable business. It kept a lot of people in the community.
“But, really it was about time the
NHS Tayside said it is distributing children’s flu vaccines as normal despite a UK-wide shortage.
This comes following news that neighbouring NHS Fife is postponing the immunisation of P4-P7s until more nasal flu vaccines become available.
Fife parents were last week informed P4-P7 children would not be vaccinated against flu initially as planned - but NHS Tayside has assured Perth and Kinross families they currently have no plans to postpone immunisations here.
An NHS Tayside spokesperson said, “NHS Tayside’s flu vaccination programme is currently continuing as normal.
“We are aware there is a UK-wide issue affecting property was developed and it has needed it for quite some time.”
The chair also praised the resourcefulness of the locals to try fill the void left by the practice.
The town’s Dunbarney Church Hall will host Taymount Surgery for a flu vaccination clinic tomorrow (November 6) for any Bridge of Earn residents registered with Taymount.
Anyone over the age of 65 or patients aged 18-64 who are living with a longterm condition are eligible, as are unpaid carers and expectant mothers.
The session is not a drop-in clinic and patients must be booked in advance by calling 01738 627117.
“We have set up other sessions for blood checks and other things,” Mr Bruce added.
“Taymount will be holding a clinic in the local church which will help.
“The community is showing some resilience and ideas which is going to help ease the change.” the supply of the children’s flu vaccine. We are closely monitoring the situation, and managing existing vaccine stocks carefully in order to minimise any disruption.”
NHS Tayside has already dealt with its first flu cases of the winter season.
At last week’s NHS Tayside board meeting, Dr Elaine Henry, clinical lead for winter planning said they “expect this winter to be very challenging” and they already know “Australia has had a difficult flu season.”
SNP Perth City Centre councillor Eric Drysdale, who was attending his first board meeting after replacing Cllr Colin Stewart, asked how effective the vaccine was.
Dr Drew Walker, director of public health said that while it was “never 100 per cent effective”, experience from other countries showed it was “round about average.”
The Health and Social Care Experience Survey is carried out in consultation with NHS boards, including NHS Tayside, integration authorities and NHS National Services Scotland, among others.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The safety of patients and practice staff is always the highest priority and NHS Tayside have said that they are providing financial and staffing support to practices taking on additional patients.
“The Health and Social Care Experience Survey sample was based on patient information as of August 20 and asks about their experiences of general practice, care and support provided by local authorities and other organisations, and caring responsibilities over the last 12 months.
“These patients’ views are still important and helps build a picture of patient experience at national and health board level.”
Dr Walker added: “Even if it’s not preventive, it lessons its severity.”
He and chief executive Grant Archibald urged members of the board and anyone eligible to get vaccinated.
Mr Archibald said: “People underestimate how bad flu is.”
The chief executive and acting medical director Professor Peter Stonebridge, along with other members of the board, got themselves immunised during the board meeting’s lunch break last Thursday.
The vaccine is available free of charge to NHS Tayside staff and volunteers as well as people in at-risk groups, pregnant women, those aged 65 years and over and unpaid carers.
Children under age five and at primary school are offered the immunisation as a nasal spray.