Frome Medical Practice is preparing for the winter vaccination programme, which this year includes a new vaccination for some patients to protect them from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV.)

Three vaccinations will be offered by the practice this year, to protect patients against RSV, seasonal flu and COVID and the practice is asking patients to familiarise themselves with who is eligible for which vaccination and how this year's vaccination programme will work. 

Lead Nurse at the practice, Pernille Johansen, said: "We strongly encourage all our patients who are eligible for the three different vaccinations this year to book their vaccine appointments, so they can protect themselves from potential serious illness.

"The RSV vaccination will be offered from September, at an appointment separate to the later flu and COVID vaccination clinics.

"Please look out for our text messages, which will invite you to book your appointments via a clickable link. We have digital health support sessions available each week if you need help with this. We will contact patients who don't have a mobile phone number registered with us by letter or telephone call." 

The practice is asking patients to please bear these following important points in mind: 

• If you are eligible for a vaccination, the practice will get in touch with you. Please wait for us to do this. 
• If we have your mobile telephone number we will send you a text including a booking link, which you can use to make your appointment. If you need help with this, please visit one of our digital health drop in sessions. More details about these are available on the practice website (search digital health support from the home page) or social media
• If you do not have a mobile phone, the practice will contact you by letter or telephone call to arrange your appointments
• Our complex care team will contact housebound patients and patients in care homes to arrange their vaccinations
• The RSV vaccination will not be available at the same time as your flu / COVID vaccination and you will need a different appointment for this. The RSV vaccination programme will start at the practice on 17 September (care home and housebound patients will be vaccinated in the first half of the month.) 
• If you are eligible for the flu vaccination and COVID vaccination we can give you both these vaccines at the same time. 
• Pregnant women and children will be able to receive their flu vaccination from 3 September (please note that most school age children will receive their vaccination at school.) 
• Most other eligible adults will be offered the flu (and, if applicable, COVID) vaccines from early October, although a small number of patients may need to be vaccinated before October (for example, anyone starting chemotherapy in October.) We will be offering vaccine clinics on 12, 19, 26 October and 7 November. We advise patients they should have their flu vaccine by the end of November.

You can find out more about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and RSV vaccinations on the NHS website.

You can find out more about flu and flu vaccinations on the NHS website.

You can find out more about COVID and COVID vaccinations on the NHS website.