I wish to decline a vaccination
The flu vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine. It’s offered every year on the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu. The best time to have the flu vaccine is in the autumn or early winter before flu starts spreading. But you can get the vaccine later.
For information on who is eligible for the flu vaccine please click here.
The pneumococcal vaccine protects against serious and potentially fatal pneumococcal infections. It’s also known as the pneumonia vaccine.
Pneumococcal infections are caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and can lead to pneumonia, blood poisoning (sepsis) and meningitis.
At their worst, they can cause permanent brain damage, or even kill.
If you meet the criteria for the vaccine (found here).
A vaccine to prevent shingles, a common, painful skin disease, is available on the NHS to people in their 70s. You’re eligible for the shingles vaccine if you are aged 70 to 79.
The shingles vaccine is given as an injection into the upper arm. Unlike the flu vaccine, you’ll only need to have the vaccination once and you can have it at any time of the year.
Most people will only need 1 dose, but some people who cannot have the routine vaccine for health reasons will need 2 doses.
For more information on the Shingles vaccine and Shingles, please click here.
The Autumn Booster will be available to all eligible patients from October 3rd (criteria found here)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of coughs and colds. It usually gets better by itself, but it can be serious for some babies and older adults.
Who’s at risk from RSV
RSV is very common. Almost all children get it at least once before they’re 2 years old.
It’s not usually serious, but some babies and adults have a higher risk of getting seriously ill, particularly:
- babies under 6 months old
- children who were born prematurely
- adults over 75 years
- babies, children and older adults with a weakened immune system, or long-term lung or heart conditions
In babies, RSV is a common cause of a type of chest infection called bronchiolitis. This can cause breathing problems and may need to be treated in hospital.
RSV can also cause a serious lung infection (pneumonia) in babies and older adults.
The HPV vaccine helps protect against human papillomavirus (HPV). It’s recommended for children aged 12 to 13 years old and people at higher risk from HPV.
The HPV vaccine reduces your chances of getting human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that’s spread through skin contact (usually when having sex).
Most types of HPV are harmless. But some types are linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, including:
HPV can also cause genital warts.
For more information please click here
The MenACWY vaccine helps protect against life-threatening illnesses like meningitis and sepsis. It’s offered to teenagers in school, but can be given up to the age of 25 if it’s been missed.
Meningitis, sepsis and septicaemia (blood poisoning) are very serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses that can lead to life-changing disabilities, such as amputations, hearing loss and brain damage.
Anyone can get meningitis but it’s most common in babies, children, teenagers and young adults.
Babies are given the MenB vaccine to help protect against a common type of bacteria that causes meningitis.
The MenACWY vaccine is given to teenagers and helps protect against 4 other types of bacteria linked to meningitis.
Although the vaccine is very effective, it does not prevent all types of meningitis, so it’s still important to be aware of the symptoms of meningitis even if you’ve been vaccinated.
For more information please click here
Tavyside Health Centre
Abbey Rise
Tavistock
Devon
PL199FD
01822 613517
Monday – Friday 8am – 6:30pm
Saturday (alternate) 8am – 12pm
(By prior appointment – no telephone service)