High demand but flu clinics go smoothly
SWANSEA flu vaccination clinics in the ‘ Cwmtawe Cluster’ are being hailed a huge success in the face of Covid restrictions and an unprecedented demand.
The group of GP surgeries in the lower Swansea Valley, which make up the Cwmtawe Cluster, has had to rethink its approach to delivering the annual flu vaccinations this year in order to obey the safety rules necessitated by the pandemic.
As a result, special walkin flu clinics have been added to a programme of appointment only vaccinations on Saturday mornings in larger venues in order to make social distancing easier, with Cwmtawe Medical Group making use of Clydach Community Hall and Tabernacle Church in Morriston.
Patients, who are greeted and guided through a quick and efficient one-way system, given their vaccination and waved goodbye through a separate door, have been overwhelmingly complimentary of the new process.
Whether the Covid pandemic has heightened people’s awareness of the need to take precautions, the uptake rate for the flu vaccination has been higher than ever this year.
The vaccinations – which are delivered in adults via a small injection into the upper arm and do not contain a live vaccine so there is no chance of catching the flu – are cur
rently only being given to the over 65s, pregnant women and those in at risk groups. All patients are asked to turn up with a face covering.
Ruth Rice, an advanced nurse practitioner at Strawberry Place Surgery in Morriston, said: “It has gone very smoothly, I would say that they’re the safest and best flu clinics I have ever been involved in. We have done at least the same number of flu jabs as previous years but have seen no patient having to wait around, they have commented multiple times on how happy they were with the process.
“We feel that it is much safer having designated flu clinics than having the patients coming in on an ad hoc basis and mixing with others, and we have used all the correct PPE and had the highest safety measures in place.
Of the success, she added: “The uptake has been the best I’ve seen. Even patents who have declined in previous years are starting to come in and we have had very few did not attends. It’s been very
successful.”
Linda Hinkley, aged 70, has received her flu vaccination from Strawberry Place.
She said: “I would recommend it to everyone. On arrival I was greeted very nicely, asked my name and then I had my temperature taken, which was very reassuring. Then I was told go a room, there were several being used. I was pleased that we weren’t all in the same room.
“There was a one-way system so no one passed near you to come back out. I thought it very well organised and felt very safe. The vaccination was painless. I have it every year. I have never had the flu and find it very reassuring, especially now with Covid around.”
Contact your GP surgery to book your flu vaccination. The cluster is currently vaccinating the over 65s, those with chronic conditions (heart, chest, kidney, diabetes, neurological), carers, mums to be, healthcare workers, care home and domiciliary staff.