The flu vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine. It helps to protect you from flu. The best time to get the flu vaccine is before the flu season starts. Walsh Medical Practice are pleased to confirm that we will have this vaccine available and it will be free for all of our eligible patients.
We are currently prioritising the administration of this vaccine for our high risk patients and will shortly have an online booking system available here on our website for all other eligible patients. We do ask that you check this website for updates, instead of ringing the surgery, so that we can keep our phone lines open for ill patients.
Who can get a free flu vaccine
You can get a free flu vaccine if you are:
- aged 65 years and older
- aged 2 to 17 years (will be available upon request to Walsh Medical Practice)
- a healthcare worker
- pregnant
- living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
- in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl
People with these conditions can also get a free flu vaccine:
- chronic heart disease, including acute coronary syndrome
- chronic liver disease
- chronic kidney failure
- chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system
- diabetes
- Down syndrome
- haemoglobinopathies
- a body mass index (BMI) over 40
- immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (including asplenia or hyposplenism, and all cancer patients)
- children with a moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorder such as cerebral palsy
- children on long-term aspirin therapy
- any condition that can compromise respiratory function, like spinal cord injury, seizure disorder or other neuromuscular disorder, especially people also attending special schools or day centres