Noticeboard

Spring 2025  Covid vaccine eligibility

People aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system will be offered a dose of COVID-19 vaccine this spring.

COVID-19 is more serious in older people and in people with certain underlying health conditions. For these reasons, people aged 75 years and over, those in care homes, and those aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system are being offered a spring dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Timing of the spring vaccine

You should be offered an appointment between April and June, with those at highest risk being called in first. You will be invited to have your booster around 6 months after your last dose, but you can have it as soon as 3 months.

If you are turning 75 years of age between April and June, you do not have to wait until your birthday, you can attend when you are called for vaccination.

You will be invited for your booster and you can book using the NHS app for Apple or Android. You can also find your nearest walk-in vaccination site from the NHS website.

For housebound patients aged 75 and over the surgery will arrange for your vaccination at home.

NHS vaccinations and when to have them 

Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent many infectious diseases and it is important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection but if you or your child has missed a vaccination then please contact the surgery to make a catch up appointment.

A full list of current NHS vaccinations for all ages is in the NHS vaccination section of the website.

Further information is available on the nhs.uk website by clicking on the link below:

Why vaccination is important and the safest way to protect yourself - NHS

Over the counter medicines

Medicines

Medicines are the most common health intervention in the world today and the NHS spends a growing share of its budget on buying them.

It is vital to the sustainability of the health service that medicines are managed responsibly and equitably.

We aim to optimise the use of medicines by promoting cost-effective and evidence-based clinical practice and effective risk management to make sure patients get the right medicine at the right time.

We make sure patients get the most from their medicines – take them correctly, avoid taking unnecessary medicines, improve safety, and reduce wastage.

Over-the-counter medicines

In 2022/23, NHS Kent and Medway spent more than £18million on medications for self-limiting, short-term illnesses and minor conditions that could potentially be bought over the counter (OTC).

This practice together with NHS Kent and Medway is committed to delivering the best value to patients by ensuring we use our resources well. Therefore, to help support implementation and ensure cost effective, evidence-based use of medicines, NHS Kent and Medway and this practice does not support the prescribing of items available OTC for self-care.

This is in line with the the guidance from NHS England for conditions which over-the-counter items should not be routinely prescribed by this practice.

Advice on medication to delay menstrual cycle period

This practice does not prescribe Norethisterone or any other medication to delay periods for women and girls for travel, sport or any other special events.

If you would like to postpone your period you can visit your local pharmacy or search online for a pharmacy website.

 



 
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