FROME Medical Practice is preparing its winter vaccination programme – which this year will include a new vaccination to protect patients from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Three vaccinations will be offered by the practice this year to protect patients against RSV, seasonal flu and Covid and the practice is asking patients to familiarise themselves with who is eligible for which vaccination and how this year’s vaccination programme will work.

The RSV vaccination programme will start at the practice on September 17

Lead nurse at the practice, Pernille Johansen, said: “We strongly encourage all our patients who are eligible for the three different vaccinations this year to book their vaccine appointments, so they can protect themselves from potential serious illness.

“The RSV vaccination will be offered from September, at an appointment separate to the later flu and COVID vaccination clinics.

“Please look out for our text messages, which will invite you to book your appointments via a clickable link. We have digital health support sessions available each week if you need help with this.

“We will contact patients who don’t have a mobile phone number registered with us by letter or telephone call.”

The practice is asking patients to please bear these following important points in mind:

• If you are eligible for a vaccination, the practice will get in touch with you. Please wait for the practice to do this.
• If the practice has your mobile telephone number they will send you a text including a booking link, which you can use to make your appointment. If you need help with this, please visit one of the digital health drop in sessions. More details about these are available on the practice website (search digital health support from the home page) or social media https://www.fromemedicalpractice.co.uk/digital-health-support
• If you do not have a mobile phone, the practice will contact you by letter or telephone call to arrange your appointments
• The complex care team will contact housebound patients and patients in care homes to arrange their vaccinations
• The RSV vaccination will not be available at the same time as your flu / Covid vaccination and you will need a different appointment for this. The RSV vaccination programme will start at the practice on September 17 (care home and housebound patients will be vaccinated in the first half of the month.)
• If you are eligible for the flu vaccination and Covid vaccination the practice can give you both these vaccines at the same time.
• Pregnant women and children will be able to receive their flu vaccination from September 3 (please note that most school age children will receive their vaccination at school.)
• Most other eligible adults will be offered the flu (and, if applicable, Covid) vaccines from early October, although a small number of patients may need to be vaccinated before October (for example, anyone starting chemotherapy in October.) The practice will be offering vaccine clinics on October 12, 19 and 26 and November 7. Patients are advised they should have their flu vaccine by the end of November.

Who is eligible for RSV vaccinations?

• Patients aged 75, on or after September 1, up to August 31, 2025
• Patients who are 28 weeks or more pregnant
• For this first year of the RSV vaccination programme, the vaccine will also be offered to those who are already 75 – 79 years old on September 1 and patients who will turn 80 years old before August 31, 2025.

You can find out more about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and RSV vaccinations on the NHS website.

Who is eligible for flu vaccinations?

• Patients aged 65 and over
• Patients with certain long term health conditions
• Pregnant women
• Patients living in care home
• Patients living with someone who has a weakened immune system
• Main carers for an older or disabled person or receive a carer’s allowance
• Children aged two – three years (born between September 1, 2020 and  August 31, 2022, school aged children (reception to year 11), children aged six months to 17 years with certain long term health conditions

You can find out more about flu and flu vaccinations on the NHS website.

Who is eligible for the Covid vaccination?

• Patients aged 65 years and over
• Residents in a care home for older adults
• Patients aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk group
• Frontline NHS and social care workers, and those working in care homes for older people

You can find out more about Covid and Covid vaccinations on the NHS website.