It’s vital to get flu jab say GPs

Doctors at Crieff Medical Centre are urging their patients aged 65 years and over and those in“at risk”groups to attend forthcoming clinics offering flu vaccinations.

The Red Practice is holding its flu clinics on Wednesday, October 25, from 8.30am to 10.30am and Wednesday, November 8, from 2pm to 4pm. Clinics for Blue Practice patients will take place on Saturday, October 7, and Saturday, October 28, from 9am to noon. No appointment is necessary for either practice.

Dr Ewing of The Red Practice said:“We don’t mean to nag but have a flu jag. Having a flu vaccine not only protects yourself it also helps the NHS by cutting hospital admissions.”

The clinical at-risk groups for Influenza are described as those who suffer from chronic respiratory disease including asthma; chronic heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease; those with diabetes mellitus; people who are immunosuppressed and those morbidly obese.

The vaccine is available free of charge to those in at-risk groups, pregnant women, those aged 65 years and over and unpaid carers. Children aged between two and five who are not at school can also receive the new childhood flu immunisation at their GP surgery and the practice should be contacted to arrange appointments.

All NHS Tayside staff and volunteers are encouraged to take up the offer of a flu jab as well to protect themselves and vulnerable patients who may be more likely to suffer complications from flu

The national seasonal flu vaccination campaign launches in October and NHS Tayside is backing the call for those who are most at risk to protect themselves from flu.

NHS Tayside Consultant in Public Health Dr Daniel Chandler said:“Even fit and healthy people can develop more serious consequences from flu.”