Vaccinations
Vaccinations
Vaccination is one of the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health. They prevent up to 3 million deaths worldwide every year.
Since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are either gone or seen very rarely. Other diseases like measles and diphtheria have been reduced by up to 99.9% since their vaccines were introduced.
However, if people stop having vaccines, it's possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again. Vaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from diseases.
It's much safer for your immune system to learn this through vaccination than by catching the diseases and treating them. Once your immune system knows how to fight a disease, it can often protect you for many years.
Having a vaccine also benefits your whole community through "herd immunity". If enough people are vaccinated, it's harder for the disease to spread to those people who cannot have vaccines. For example, people who are ill or have a weakened immune system.
Childhood Vaccination Programme
Routine vaccinations help protect children against serious illnesses and reduce the spread of infection to others. Vaccinations in the routine childhood programme are offered free of charge.
We will invite your child to an appointment at the surgery when their vaccinations are due. If your child has missed an appointment or you are unsure whether they are up to date, please contact us to arrange one. Children can usually catch up on vaccinations they have missed.
The vaccines offered and the ages at which they are given can change. For the latest information, please see the routine childhood immunisation schedule from Public Health Wales.
Unscheduled Immunisations
It is important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection. If you have missed a vaccine, or recently been invited for one, please book an appointment with one of our practice nurses.
Adults eligible for unscheduled immunisations, for example Pneumococcal (PPV), Shingles, Pertussis (pregnant women) etc are invited based on their age group and assessment of risk.
A shingles vaccine is routinely offered to everyone aged 70 to 79 years of age. Individuals become eligible on their 70th birthday and remain eligible until their 80th birthday. Some people under 70 who are at high risk of developing shingles may also be offered the vaccine by their doctor. Read more about who can have the shingles vaccine.
The pneumococcal vaccine (pneumonia vaccine as it's also known) protects against pneumococcal infections. People over-65 only need a single pneumococcal vaccination, which will protect for life. People with a long-term health condition may need just a single one-off pneumococcal vaccination or five-yearly vaccination depending on their underlying health problem. Read more about why the pneumococcal vaccination is needed.
Vaccines for special groups
There are some vaccines that aren't routinely available to everyone on the NHS, but that are available for people who fall into certain risk groups, such as pregnant women, people with long-term health conditions and healthcare workers.
Additional ones include hepatitis B vaccination, TB vaccination and chickenpox vaccination.
Annual flu vaccination
Flu can cause serious illness, particularly for older people, pregnant women and those with certain long-term health conditions. The flu vaccine is offered every year because protection can change and the viruses circulating each winter may be different.
If you are eligible for a free NHS flu vaccination, the surgery will invite you to book an appointment when our seasonal clinics are available. Some eligible patients can also receive their flu vaccination at a participating community pharmacy. Children of school age are usually offered their vaccination through the school immunisation service.
We recommend having your flu vaccination when it is offered, ideally before flu starts to spread widely. You can check the current eligibility guidance from Public Health Wales.
COVID-19 vaccination
COVID-19 vaccinations are not provided at the GP surgery. If you are eligible, the immunisation service will contact you directly with details of your appointment at a mass vaccination centre. Please follow the instructions in your invitation if you need to change your appointment.
Eligibility for seasonal COVID-19 vaccination differs from flu vaccination and may change between campaigns. For current information, visit the Public Health Wales COVID-19 vaccine page.