Booking Flu vaccinations

A total of 17.6 million people in England have had the flu vaccine so far, but millions more in vulnerable groups remain at risk. During Flu season GP practices can make the most of the national booking system for flu vaccinations to help patients to keep protected against winter illnesses. The National flu booking system can still be attached to GP practice website pages under clinics and services, to provide patients with details of eligibility and also share information about the wider vaccination programmes.   GP practices can also add local details where patients can self-book online. During winter, the seasonal vaccinations and winter health webpage will contain more details of who’s most at risk in winter, how to look on vulnerable neighbours and relatives, information leaflets, video, audio files in alternative languages that can be uploaded to a GP practice website. The UKHSA have also created easy-read to reach vulnerable patients.

Benefits for GP practices

  • booking online directly, saves time
  • maximise QOF & DES income
  • protects the workforce
  • reduces winter pressure for appointments

Benefits for patients

  • Reduces a patient’s risk of getting sick with winter illnesses. This is particularly important for those vulnerable groups who struggle the most with being unwell such as those aged 65 and over, people with long-term conditions and people who are pregnant. For more info on who can get Flu vaccine visit the eligibility guidance on NHS.UK. In addition to this, reducing the number of illnesses due to preventable diseases frees up NHS resources for other medical uses.
  • Getting a vaccine can also help a person prevent themselves from transmitting this disease to others, including those who provide care to them. This is why children, carers and health and social workers are also eligible for the vaccine.

 

Sometimes patients have concerns over the safety of vaccines and patients and GP practices can find more info on the safety and risk of getting these vaccines by visiting the NHS. UK COVID-19 and Flu vaccine pages.

 

Resources