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MMR Catch-up Campaign

The MMR immunisation catch up programme is to reduce the risk of a measles epidemic. This is to target children and young people aged 13 months to 18 years who have not received MMR vaccinations.
Sessions with a nurse or a health visitor are available, with the main campaign week commencing 20th October, half term week, to try and catch children off school. We strongly urge people who have not received their MMR vaccinations to attend as measles can have serious complications.

Influenza and the Flu jab

For most people, flu is nasty but not serious, a short period of chills, aches and pains and then a return to normal health.
But some people are at greater risk from the effects of flu. For them, flu can increase the risk of more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia or can make existing conditions worse. In the worst cases, flu can result in a stay in hospital – or even death.

Even if you feel healthy, you should definitely consider having the flu jab if you have:

• a serious heart problem
• a serious chest complaint, including patients taking certain asthma medication
• diabetes
• a serious kidney disease
• lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment)
• a serious liver disease or
• had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

You should also have the jab if you are aged 65 years or over.

Flu jabs will be available at the Practice from October 7th 2008 onwards for all registered patients who are aged 65 and over, or are aged less than 65 and have one of the conditions listed above.

For further information on Flu and the Flu jab visit the NHS Immunisations website.