Influenza Vaccinations Autumn 2023

[AgedCrone]

For anyone interested BOOTS the chemist have already started bookings for these vaccinations.

In my location they are already booked well into October.

As far as I can make out you book on line & if you already have a Boots account, they need all those details.Otherwise you need to open an account.

[MadBunny]

Thanks for the heads up x

[AgedCrone in reply to MadBunny]

You don’t half need patience if you choose to get a confirmation code by phone. It’s not a number that appears on your phone, it’s a voice text with 6 numbers….it took me three attempts because the first number is said virtually silent(OK it was my hearing…annoying all the same)

[MadBunny in reply to AgedCrone]

Oh the joys of technology🙄Thanks for the warning.

[medway-lady]

Our GP contacted us last week booked for 16th Sept.

[Annscottie in reply to medway-lady]

Yes I had GP invite. Booked for late Sept. Husband is 78 and not had invite yet but he has no

'conditions'....well not NHS recognised ones 😂

[AgedCrone in reply to medway-lady]

I have given up on my GP for anything…decided DIY gets things done!

But in fact on Boots website for Influenza vax they only state you have to be over 65.

[J1707- in reply to AgedCrone]

Booked mine, my husband and my 19 year old online with boots in July

[AgedCrone in reply to J1707-]

Yes I though of it then, but my ToDo list drifted a bit😩😩😩

[helixhelix]

round here there’s been no flu before christmas for last two years. So I’ll have it in November to have max protection when the flu is around.

[AgedCrone]

There haven’t been any alarming forecasts here of a bad flu season 23/24…mind you forecasts don’t usually prove that reliable.

Being on Rtx I try to book all vaccinations to fit in with the timing of that.

[nanny_bee71]

Booked mine at our GP first week September

[Runrig01]

I’ve booked mine for October with my gp, I just felt Sept Is a bit early. Got a text with a link. I expect pharmacies will be busier this year, as it’s only over 65s and those at clinical risk that qualify. Hubby hadn’t heard he’s diabetic, but if he doesn’t get offered, I should be able to get his as someone living with someone who is immunosuppressed 🤞

[Bails67]

I am lucky to have a well organised GP mine all booked for 3 weeks. Handy to know a bout boots as my hubby needs one and doctors will only do certain groups.

[Haz58]

Boots rang me a couple of weeks ago asking if we wanted our flu jabs again. Booked in for 22nd September. What a service!

[Green230461]

Thanks for this information 🌺

[HeadInASpin]

Well Pharmacy sent me a text about flu vax. Booked for 21 September. Do we have to have the pneumonia vaccination too? I know it’s only a one off given to over 70s but wondered if RA patients have to have it too?

(I’m 56 years old diagnosed this year)

[AgedCrone in reply to HeadInASpin]

Ask your own doctor….he/she is the best person to advise.

[HeadInASpin in reply to AgedCrone]

I did and she didn’t know!

[AgedCrone in reply to HeadInASpin]

Then ask your rheumy team….there is no compunction to have that vaccination…I have never had it….but if you think you need it…get some professional advice.

[Boxerlady in reply to HeadInASpin]

I was advised to have it by my rheumy team so I did so although I did have to persuade my GP surgery

[bpeal1 in reply to HeadInASpin]

I was advised to have it by rheumatology team before starting biologics and my (then) 15 year old daughter was advised to have it before she started biologics too. On both occasions the rheumatology team wrote to our GP surgery to ask them to do it. My rheumatologist also said although over 70s are advised they only need it once I should have mine repeated every 5 years. Everyone is in a slightly different situation (different levels of disease activity and different combinations of drugs) so the best person to advise you is the rheumatologist.

[AgedCrone in reply to bpeal1]

It does seem these days that GP don’t seem to understand much about Biologic drugs & their effects…..but I suppose as they don’t prescribe them that is not surprising.

However it is very confusing for patients being refused any sort of treatment by their GP, when it has originally been prescribed by their consultant.

Of course as we hardly get to see our GP these days…we just have to keep pushing….especially when trying to get past the receptionist when trying to explain you need an appointment to have a discussion.

[HeadInASpin]

Thanks all. I will ask at my review next month. There’s a lot to take in as a new patient (as I’m sure it was for you all) and there always seems to be something else to find out about. E.g vaccinations. As you say AgedCrone, it can all be a bit confusing.

On the whole I think I have one of the better GPs it’s just that she couldn’t answer this particular question.

[AgedCrone in reply to HeadInASpin]

Unfortunately the majority of GPs didn’t cover themselves in glory during Covid. Of course as they don’t prescribe our RA meds it’s understandable they can’t usually advise on them…but during a pandemic one would have hoped for better

The receptionist at my GP surgery actually replied to an email enquiry I sent saying bluntly “Covid is nothing to do with us “…..even when I copied her the instructions to Primary Care from the Director of NHS England she refused to accept GPs should at least attempt to help patients.

Hope you get sorted at your review next month.

[Boxerlady in reply to HeadInASpin]

My GP is actually very good; she looked it up and said that she didn't think that I was eligible as I was on Methotrexate rather than a biologic but when my rheumy team recommended that I have it, she immediately arranged it.

[AgedCrone in reply to Boxerlady]

You are lucky with you GP….I’m confused about what my GP practice are actually willing to do….not a lot seems the answer. Maybe they think at 80+I should know all the answers by now?

I have been with this practice for two years ..,I have never seen a doctor who actually works there…..just a different locum each time…only been about 3 or 4 times,& they all ask the same questions….prod the same areas …in short I might as well not have taken up an appointment….but as I have only had a few appointments…I don’t feel guilty.

Thankfully my rheumy is very helpful so he gets asked non rheumy questions…..& I get answers.

[Boxerlady in reply to AgedCrone]

That's not good 🥴My surgery is great which just goes to show that it IS possible.

They have an online message service and I always get a response almost immediately, usually offering me a choice of F2F or telephone appointments if I feel that I need them or useful information and advice if not. I can usually see the GP of my choice if I'm willing to wait a few days but the trainees/locums I've seen have been ok too.

The phone line takes longer ("you are number 5 in the queue") but they're always polite, friendly and helpful.

Not bragging (honestly! 😂) but pointing out that good surgeries do exist and should be more common.

[AgedCrone in reply to Boxerlady]

Mine is an odd practice…..the senior partner is a woman who nobody ever gets to see. If I didn’t have friends who can advise me who to see I would leave the practice….but it’s only a couple of miles away & handy to get my prescriptions. The next nearest practice is a 15 mile round trip…..along country lanes, which I can do without ….especially in the winter.

[Boxerlady]

We changed from the one round the corner to one 15 minutes away by car (easy main roads) because the local one was so useless. 🙄

[AgedCrone in reply to Boxerlady]

Thankfully apart from RA associated symptoms I don’t need a hands on GP, but sadly a lot of people here do & they are missing out when a practice like this is allowed to continue. But whistleblowing won’t happen…because the GP would wriggle out,& the patient would be the one to be inconvenienced.