Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Update
Our annual flu vaccination clinics were held on Saturday 4th October and Saturday 11th October and were very well attended.
This year, we were pleased to be able to offer COVID-19 vaccinations at the same time, which proved extremely popular with our patients.
We would like to thank everyone who attended and extend our appreciation to our staff for their hard work in delivering these successful clinics.
COVID Eligibility
COVID-19 Vaccination – Eligibility
Please note that the eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 vaccine has changed.
Following updated guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), people aged 65 to 74 are no longer eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this autumn.
For the 2025 programme, the vaccine will be offered only to individuals who are immunocompromised, as the focus has shifted to protecting those at highest risk of severe illness.
Please note that household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals are no longer eligible for the vaccination under current guidance.
Our nursing team is not permitted to vaccinate anyone who does not meet the national eligibility criteria. We understand this may cause frustration, especially as some patients may have received texts or letters from NHS England stating they are eligible when they are not. Unfortunately, this is due to a national communication error and is outside of our control.
If you are not eligible but still wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, private vaccines are available at some high street pharmacies for approximately £100 per person.
Who is eligible this autumn:
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- All adults aged 75 years and over (including those turning 75 by 31st January)
- Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed
COVID How to book
If you were unable to attend our pre-bookable COVID clinics, please try:
COVID Vaccine Information
This year, Fernville Surgery has been supplied with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. We are not able to offer an alternative vaccine; however, some local pharmacies may be providing different options.
Please note that all COVID-19 vaccines used by the NHS are free from animal products, including eggs.
Flu Vaccinations – Eligibility
Those eligible for the flu vaccine include:
- Pregnant women
- Children ages 2 or 3 years on 31st August 2025- (It’s done at the surgery. Quick, easy and there are no needles!)
- Children in at-risk groups
- Individuals aged 65 years and over
- People aged 18 to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
- Residents of long-stay residential care homes
- Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- Frontline social care workers without access to an employer-led occupational health scheme
Flu School-Aged Immunisation Service
Primary and secondary school children (reception to year 11): These will be arranged and given in school, unless the child falls in a risk group.
In Dacorum, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) is responsible for delivering the School-Aged Immunisation Service (SAIS).
This service provides the full UK vaccination programme for school-aged children, with vaccinations administered by visiting nursing teams at schools.
Fernville Surgery does not provide a catch-up service for school-aged children who miss their flu vaccination due to illness, extracurricular commitments, or other legitimate reasons.
If your child misses the school session, parents/carers should contact the School-Aged Immunisation Service directly to arrange a catch-up appointment:
- Phone: 0300 555 5055 (Option 7)
- Email: hct.csaisherts@nhs.net
You can also contact Vaccination UK:
- Phone: 01462 341173
- Email: vaccinationhertfordshire@evguk.co.uk
We understand HCT will be running catch-up clinics in the area once the first wave of school visits are completed (these are often on a Saturday).
More details are available here: Catch-up Clinics – East of England
Fernville Surgery is only commissioned and supplied with enough vaccine stock to cover children aged 2 to 3 years, and high-risk children under 18.
Flu Gelatine Information
The nasal flu vaccine is the best vaccine for children and young people under 18 years of age as it is more effective at stopping the spread of flu and it is painless, but it does have a highly processed form of gelatine (porcine gelatine), which is used in a range of many essential medicines. The gelatine helps to keep the vaccine viruses stable so that the vaccine provides the best protection against flu.
If your faith or beliefs mean you would prefer a vaccine that has no pork (porcine gelatine) in it, a flu vaccine is available in the form of an injection. You can still have this at school. Please complete the consent for the flu injection only.