The annual flu jab is the best protection against this winter virus and with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it has never been as important for those who would particularly benefit to ensure that they have the flu vaccine. 

These are some of the reasons why:

• Protect yourself: the flu jab is safe and effective. It has been shown to reduce the severity of those who do still catch the virus, reducing hospital admissions and deaths.

• Protect each other: The more people who have the flu jab (including children aged 2 – 10, carers, and those in care homes), the less likely they are to pass it on to those who might be vulnerable. 

• Protect against self isolation: mild COVID, colds and mild flu all display the same symptoms. Reducing the amount of circulating flu will reduce the number of people having to self isolate just because they have flu until they get a negative PCR.

• Protect the NHS. The NHS is set up to manage the annual winter pressures that the flu season causes. However, it is expected that this year's flu season is going to be particularly bad because lock down last year reduced everyone's exposure to flu, so more people will be susceptible. The potential for both a peak of flu and covid could put huge pressures on an NHS already trying to recover. 

We will be offering the vaccine to patients we see in surgery as well as our prebooked flu clinics.

We are working with neighbouring practices and the community services to ensure that housebound patients receive their Flu Jab and COVID-19 Booster vaccine as soon as possible. If you are housebound and haven't already been contacted by us, please phone the practice so we can refer you to the district nurses.

For patients who aren't housebound, if you are offered both the Flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines, it's safe to have them at the same time. However you can only recieve the flu vaccine from Glenpark or your local pharmacy, and your COVID-19 vaccine from local vaccination services. Click the link below to book an appointment if you have had a text message to say that you are eligible, or you are a frontline health and social care worker. 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ 

The vaccine is free for those at most risk from the flu:

• Children aged 2-4 years old on the 31 August 2022 and those in Reception to Year 7. Children at school will normally receive their vaccine from the school, but we will immunise any child in this age group if they are in another at-risk group
• Everyone who will be aged 50 or over by 31st March 2023
• Anyone living with certain long term medical conditions
• Those with caring responsibilities
• Pregnant women (if you have an antenatal appointment in the next few weeks, your midwife should give you the flu vaccine if you want it)

For those that don’t meet the criteria to have a flu jab free on the NHS, continuing to follow the COVID "hands, face, space, & fresh air" advice will also help in the fight against flu this winter. 

But the ongoing pandemic and uncertainty over what will happen to COVID numbers over the autumn means that we are going to continue to follow the COVID safe processes introduced to last year's flu clinics to keep our staff and more vulnerable patients safe.

Eligible Long Term Conditions

• respiratory conditions, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and bronchitis
• diabetes
• heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
• being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above
• chronic kidney disease
• liver disease, such as hepatitis
• some neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or cerebral palsy
• a learning disability
• problems with your spleen like sickle cell disease, or if you've had your spleen removed
• a weakened immune system as a result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or taking medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy

For more information on eligibility and the flu vaccine click here

Online

The easiest way to book your vaccine is to use our online services. Please do check though that you book into the correct age slot: different age groups receive slightly different vaccines and slots are based on when each of these vaccines is delivered.

If you do not have access to our online services, you can easily register for prescription ordering and appointment booking by downloading the free NHSApp from the Apple iStore or Google Play (make sure you download the NHSApp not the NHSCovid App.) Signing up is automatic for most patients.

Phone

For those unable to register online, speak to reception (the phones are usually a lot quieter after 2pm)

Pharmacy

In the unlikely event that we don't have a suitable appointment, many pharmacists are also able to offer the vaccine to eligible patients for free.

→Book an appointment: Our flu clinics will again be prebooked, both on the Saturdays and during the normal working week. This worked really well last year, particularly helping us match stock availability and to reduce queuing. Please make sure you book into the right appointment type (they will be called "Over 65 flu", "Under 65 flu" or "children flu")

→Phone in an afternoon to book, or book online: Booking online will give you the greatest choice of flu appointments and reduce pressure on the phone lines. If you are not already registered for our online services, why not try the NHS App available from App Store or Google Play. Its simple to download and get started (though note that if you want access to your medical record you will need to bring ID to the practice.)

→Wear a short sleeved top: For the flu clinics, if the weather allows, wear a light jacket that can be easily removed, and a short sleeved top underneath. This will help keep the flu clinics moving. If this isn’t going to be possible, please tell reception that you need extra time and they will book you into a slightly longer slot.

→Arrive on time: Don’t arrive more than 5 minutes early for your flu clinic appointment. If you do you may be asked to wait in the car park until your appointment time to ensure we maintain social distancing in the building.

→Leave Time to Park: The Saturday flu clinics are very busy so for everyone’s safety we may close part of the car park to help manage any queue. Please do be good neighbours and park in the surrounding area considerately.

→Be “COVID-safe”: Although restrictions have eased, given the ongoing uncertainty we still ask patients to stay away if you have COVID symptoms, keep 2m from each other, follow directions in surgery, wear a mask, use the hand cleaning facilities available and turn your head from the nurse or doctor when we come close to give your vaccine. 

Injection: Some people have a mild temperature or muscle aches for a few days after the vaccine. You may also be sore at the site of the injection. Serious side effects, such as allergic reactions are extremely rare. The injection form does not contain any live virus; you cannot catch the flu from it.

Nasal Spray: Wherever stocks allow, we will be offering the nasal spray vaccine for those aged 2-17 years. In addition to mild aches and pains, the nasal spray can cause a runny nose for a couple of days. Occasionally the flu vaccine can cause a mild temperature; in small children temperature fits have been reported (these are harmless and do not cause epilepsy.)

Who should not have the Flu Vaccine

Let the doctor or nurse know if you have had a serious allergy to egg; we will order you a special vaccine. If you have a fever, it is probably wise to delay the vaccine until you have recovered.

During the flu clinic we normally offer eligible patients their pneumococcal or shingles vaccines at the same time as the flu vaccine. Whether we are able to do so this year will depend on the COVID vaccination booster programme and how long a gap is needed between the different vaccines. If we are not able to offer the vaccine at the same time as the flu jab, we will endeavour to arrange a catch up campaign later in the autumn.

If you are not sure whether you are eligible or have had either of these vaccines, please contact the surgery.

PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE:

The Pneumococcal vaccine protects against a bacteria that is one of the common causes of serious pneumonia. It also causes other infections such as meningitis and so is now part of the children's vaccination schedule.

It is offered to anyone aged 65 years or over, or who has one of the long term conditions listed above. (For most patients it is a one-off vaccine, but for patients with problems with their spleen or chronic kidney problems a booster is normally needed every 5 years.

SHINGLES:

Patients aged 70- 79  at the time of the injection are eligible for the shingles vaccine, if they have not had it before. It is a one off vaccine that helps protect against shingles which affects people more commonly and more severely as they get older. You should not have it though if you have a problem with your immune system.

We recognise that some religious adherents may have concern about the porcine gelatin in some vaccines, particularly the nasal flu vaccine. These statements by faith leaders may help patients in their choice of whether to have the vaccine.

Statement by Jewish Leaders

"This statement from representatives of the Jewish community may help your patients to reach a decision about having the vaccine:

"Rabbi Abraham Adler from the Kashrus and Medicines Information Service, said: It should be noted that according to Jewish laws, there is no problem with porcine or other animal derived ingredients in non-oral products. This includes vaccines, including those administered via the nose, injections, suppositories, creams and ointments"

Source: UK Government: Flu vaccine and porcine gelatine FAQ

Statement by the Muslim Fatwa Council

Date: 07/09/2021
Fatwa on Flu vaccine containing Porcine gelatine

Question:

In certain areas of Midlands, we are experiencing issues with Muslim communities refusing to have their children vaccinated with the influenza nasal spray due to it containing porcine as a stabiliser. This vaccine is used for children to protect them and the vulnerable elderly at serious  risk of catching flu. It saves lot of pain and sicknesses in the community affecting thousands of people.

The children’s flu vaccination programme is extremely important since it not only protects the child itself but also protects vulnerable family members and the wider community. This then has huge benefits on the local health system, 94% lower flu like illnesses in primary age children and 74% less visits to A &E.

So, in the bigger interest of the society's health can this vaccine be given to children? What do the scholars say about the permissibility of in flu vaccine that contains pork gelatine, is this allowed?
From, A concerned Muslim Nurse

Answer: Fatwa on Flu vaccine containing Porcine gelatine

I begin with the name of Allah, the Kind the Caring

The flu vaccine that contains porcine gelatine is a simple nasal spray that is particularly useful and easy to administer to children. This year the flu nasal spray will be offered to all school age children and 2- and 3-year olds. It is also administered to children who are susceptible to flu and have other problems like asthma which is exacerbated by the flu. It has been shown to reduce A &E admissions and other complications considerably. The flu nasal spray is the most effective way of protecting your child from flu but this year the NHS are offering children the non-porcine, injectable vaccination, as an alternative to the nasal spray. It is important that you accept one of the vaccines to protect your child and your family.

Firstly, it’s important to understand the nature of the porcine gelatine. This is a pure product and is exactly same as the cow gelatine, goat or any other animals’ gelatine. It has same protein structure, same properties and same colour, texture and taste. You would not be able to distinguish the porcine gelatine from the others. Considering this fact, it is argued that it doesn’t matter what its origin is. A similar fatwa was issued by Mufti Ali Jumma the Grand Mufti of Egypt about Pig products including insulin.

Secondly, this is for a medical purpose, it’s not consumption or eating. The nasal vaccine is important preventative measure that has been shown empirically to reduce lot of suffering in vulnerable children. This then falls under the well-known category of ‘darurah’ necessity, required and needed. The Quran teaches: “He has made unlawful for you the carcass, the blood, pork and animals over which any name other than Allah’s has been invoked. However, if one is dying of hunger then a small amount can be eaten in order to survive, Allah is Forgiver and Kind.” (Al Baqara:173) From this jurist have reasoned that when something that is forbidden is necessary for survival then it becomes permissible. So, if porcine gelatine was forbidden in this situation, it becomes permissible. The other rule from this is: "What is permissible for a particular need can be used according to the amount required.”

Thirdly, my fatwa is based on this powerful principle Istihala found in books of Fiqh: “Istihala means the change of a substance as a result of its purification and the removal of all the impurities around it. Scholars are agreed that when alcohol changes into vinegar it is considered pure. The majority of Hanafi, Maliki scholars and Imam Ahmed said that istihala renders impure substance pure. As mentioned above, there is no scholarly contention on the purity of an alcohol that has turned into vinegar. Another example the scholars give is the blood of deer, when it is converted into musk it becomes an expensive fragrance. (p1738 Encyclopaedia of Fatwa published by Dar la Ifta Al-Misriyya)

Considering this evidence, we conclude the nasal flu vaccine containing porcine gelatine is permissible for use.

On behalf of the British Fatwa Council
Mufti Dr Hafiz M Munir Al-Azhari
Mufti Yar Muhammed Khan Qadri
Dr Musharraf Hussain Al-Azhari