The winter 2024 vaccination programme aims to protect those who continue to be most at-risk of severe COVID-19 and flu, to prevent severe illness, hospitalisation and death.
It also aims to minimise further pressure on the NHS and social care services during the winter period.
As per Scottish Government policy, the following groups of people are being invited for COVID-19 booster and seasonal flu vaccination:
· Residents in care homes for older adults
· All adults aged 65 years and over
· Individuals aged 6 months and over who are in a clinical at risk group for COVID-19, including all pregnant women
· Frontline Health and Social Care Workers
· Staff in care homes for older adults
And the following groups of people are being invited for seasonal flu vaccination only:
· Those aged 18-64 years with an eligible flu-only clinical risk condition
· Unpaid carers, including young carers under the age of 16 years
· Household contacts of those with immunosuppression
· School age pupils (primary and secondary)
· Children aged 2-5 (not at school)
· Children aged 6 months to 2 years at-risk
· Poultry workers
· Non-frontline NHS workers
· Asylum seekers living in Home Office hotel or B&B accommodation
· Those experiencing homelessness
· Those experiencing substance misuse
· All prisoners within the Scottish prison estate
People in Shetland who are eligible will be contacted by national or local letter, phone call, email, text or through the relevant service (eg antenatal clinics for pregnant women). Some people will be given an appointment, and others will be asked to make an appointment (using the online booking portal if possible) or attend a drop-in session.
The childhood flu programme will be delivered in schools and in health centres (for children under five). Children requiring a COVID-19 vaccination will be contacted by the Vaccination Team.
Adults needing flu or COVID-19 vaccination will be invited to attend the Vaccination Centre in Lerwick or their local health centre or outreach clinics depending on their age and where they live. Some people will receive their vaccination in another clinic setting (such as an antenatal clinic) and a small number of people will be asked to attend a hospital clinic. The Community Nursing Team will deliver the vaccinations to people who cannot leave their homes and residents in care homes.
Health and social care staff will be advised of the clinics that they can attend in their locality or they can attend the Vaccination Centre (they must bring their work ID with them).
There are a small number of people eligible for flu and / or COVID-19 vaccination that may not have contact details for – such as poultry workers, or people who have recently moved to Shetland. If you are in one of the groups above and have not received any information about winter vaccines by the end of October then please contact the Vaccination Team on 01595 743319 or shet.vaccination-team@nhs.scot
If you have questions about the programme or your appointment please email or call the Vaccination Team as above and leave a message. Please be aware that at busy times, there may be a delay in calling you back but we aim to contact you by the next working day.
Walk-in clinics will be offered later in the programme and times for these will be advertised.
There is a lot of information on the NHS Inform website, including patient information leaflets, access to the booking portal for making and changing appointments, and how to opt out of receiving appointments, visit: Winter vaccines | NHS inform