Adult Immunisations
Shingles Vaccine
The Shingles vaccine protects against Shingles, an infection that causes a painful rash. The Vaccine is recommended for people who are at a higher risk from shingles.
Who can have the Shingles Vaccine?
Eligibility for the Shingles vaccine has changed. We can only vaccinate people who fall into the groups listed below. This criteria has been set out by NHS England, the Nurses and Doctors at Moatfield cannot override this.
If you have a severely weakened immune system, you will be offered the vaccine from age 50.
If you are 70 years old, born between 1st September 1954 - 31st August 1955, you will be offered the shingles vaccine this year.
If you are 71 or older and have not had the shingles vaccine before, you will be eligible for the vaccine until your 80th Birthday.
If you are aged 65 years old, born between 1st September 1959 - 31st August 1960, you will be offered the shingles vaccine this year.
If you are unsure of why you are eligible for the shingles vaccination, the NHS have put together guidance for who should have the vaccine.
If you do not fall into one of these categories or are not sure, NHS England has created a guide to the new vaccination schedule.
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Vaccine
RSV is very common, and not usually serious. However some babies and adults are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill. In particular:
- Babies under 6 months
- Children born Prematurely
- Adults over 75 Years
- Babies, children and older adults born with a weakened immune system, or long-term heart conditions.
RSV is a common cause of bronchiolitis in babies, which can cause breathing problems and may have to be treated in hopsital. RSV can also lead to pneumonia in babies and older adults.
Who can have the RSV Vaccine?
You will be invited for your NHS RSV Vaccine if:
- You turn 75 on or after 1st September 2024.
- You are already 75-79 years old on 1st September 2024.
This is not a Live vaccine, so it is okay to have if you are immunosuppressed. It contains no Animal Products so is suitable for Vegetarians.
Further Resources
You can read all about how to protect yourself by having the RSV Vaccine in the Guide to the RSV Vaccine for Older Adults.
Pneumococcal Vaccine
The pneumococcal vaccination protects against serious bacterial infections such as meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia. It can also help to protect you against other illnesses such as ear infections and sinusitis.
Who can have the Pneumococcal Vaccine?
| Babies |
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| People aged 65 and over |
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| Children and Adults at higher risk of getting seriously ill |
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You can have the pneumococcal vaccine at the same time as other vaccinations, such as shingles or flu, so long as you are eligible.
Pertussis (Whopping Cough) Vaccine
Whooping Cough (also known as Pertussis) is a serious infection that causes persistent coughing and choking, making it hard to breathe, It is highly infectious and can lead to pneumonia and brain damage, particularly in young babies.
Pregnant women can help protect their babies from whooping cough by getting vaccinated while pregnant, the immunity you get from the vaccine will be passed to your baby through the placenta and will give them enough protection until they are old enough to be vaccinated against Whooping Cough at i weks old.
It is advised that the best time to get vaccinated to protect your baby is from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks of pregnancy. This gives the best changce that your baby will be protected from birth so the antibodies can transfer before they are born. It is possible to have the vaccine up until you go into labour, however this is not ideal as your baby is less likely to get the protection.
Travel Vaccines
You may require vaccinations before you travel, this will depend on where you are travelling to. We have a page dedicated to travel health, including our travel risk assessment form and general advice for travel.
Am I Up To Date?
Most patients can now check their immunisations on their NHS App/Patient Access account. We have linked resources below for information on how to set up Online Services.
If you do not have access to your immunisation records and would like to, please contact the surgery.
If you feel your health needs require a vaccine we cannot offer, please contact NHS England.
- By Post to: NHS England, PO Box 16738, Redditch, B97 9PT
- By Email to: england.contactus@nhs.net stating "For the Attention of the Complaints team" in the subject line
- By Telephone: 0300 311 22 33
Last Updated 19/08/2024