For Childhood Immunisations

Please see the childhood immunisation page for a full listing.

Tetanus

You need 5 tetanus injections to achieve immunity. Most of us will have had five as part of our childhood immunisation programme. Older generations may not have had five and should seek advice from our nurse as to whether a booster is required.

Travel Jabs

Travel Immunisations are given by our nurses within a normal surgery. Please ensure you inform the receptionist you require an appointment for travel jabs. You should obtain and complete a Travel Questionnaire (available from reception or download here) to bring with you to your appointment. Find out more about travel health at fitfortravel web site.

Our Practice Nurses will check your current immunisation status against the required vaccines for the country you are visiting and will advise you which vaccines and, if applicable, Malaria prophylaxis, are required.

Typical travel jabs are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Diphtheria, Polio and less commonly Japanese encephalitis.

A charge will be made for certain vaccines that are not available under the NHS, including (but not limited to) Yellow Fever, Cholera and Rabies. Some Malaria prophylaxis drugs are only available on prescription. Unfortunately prescription and dispensing of travel drugs is not covered by the NHS. The scale of charges are available from reception. You will be informed of the charges before the course of jabs.

We are a registered Yellow Fever centre and will issue a Yellow Fever Certificate (required for entry to some countries) following vaccination.

Flu and Pneumonia Jabs

Flu Jabs 2011

An additional Flu Jab clinic will be held on the afternoon of Tuesday 6th December for those who missed the two Saturday clinics.

The Flu clinic dates are Saturdays 15th October and 12th November 8.30 - 12.30 .

Please call Reception to book an appointment on: 020 8398 8619 between 4pm & 5pm.

Flu and Pneumonia Jab Clinics are held annually and begin in early October. Flu jabs are available on the NHS to patients in the following categories:

• aged over the age of 65
• have a long-term (chronic) condition such as a heart problem, asthma or diabetes
• have a lowered immune system due to disease or treatment such as steroid medication or cancer treatment
• have long-term (chronic) heart, liver or kidney disease
• have chronic neurological disease such as Parkinson's disease or motor neurone disease
• living in long stay residential care or nursing home
• are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill
• Pregnant women
• frontline health and social care workers.

Patients over 65 should also ensure that they have had a Pneumococcal (Pneumonia) vaccination.

Flu can cause serious illness in the elderly and those with medical conditions. A Flu jab is the best protection available.

Information leaflet.

Chicken Pox (Varicella)

Varicella immunisation is now recommended for non-immune health care workers (HCWs), who work in primary care and in hospitals (both in the NHS and privately) and who have direct patient contact. This is recommended to protect susceptible HCWs and also to protect vulnerable patients from acquiring chickenpox from an infected member of staff.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B can be passed on in the following ways:

• During sex with an infected partner.
• From an infected mother to her newborn baby during delivery.
• Users of injected drugs can infect others through sharing needles.
• By sharing contaminated needles or other drug injecting equipment.
• Through a blood transfusion in a country where blood is not tested for hepatitis B virus. All blood in the UK is tested.

There is a vaccine against hepatitis B. It contains a killed part of the hepatitis B virus and is given in three doses. All pregnant women are offered screening for hepatitis B. If found to be carriers, or to have acute hepatitis B during pregnancy, their babies are given hepatitis B vaccine starting at birth and hepatitis B immunoglobulin if recommended.

People at increased risk of infection with hepatitis B, though, lifestyle, occupation such as healthcare workers or other factors, are also offered the vaccine. Please enquire if you think you are at risk.

The usual course is three injections and boosters may be required. Full information can be found on the NHS Immunisation website.