Flu Vaccine Service

This year, getting the flu vaccine is more important than ever, that is why we are providing the flu vaccination service in Edinburgh. We offer Private and NHS flu vaccines at Colinton Mains Pharmacy, and these are administered by one of our trained pharmacists. Our private vaccines are usually undertaken by patients who are not eligible for an NHS vaccine, but choose to have one each year.

What Is The Flu Jab?

The flu vaccine is a vaccination against the Influenza Virus. Most people receive this vaccination as an injection or jab. But children receive the vaccination in the form of a nasal spray.

The flu vaccine is the best protection against catching the flu. It is possible to catch a strain of flu virus that wasn’t included in the vaccine. However, if you do, you’re still provided with some protection and will probably recover more quickly from than if you hadn’t had the vaccine.

Who Should Have The Flu Vaccination?

For 2021 and 2022, it’s strongly recommended that everyone gets vaccinated if they can – especially if you were shielding during the coronavirus lockdown.

Having the jab will help protect you from catching and spreading the flu. It will also help prevent you from infecting other people in your family as well as helping to reduce the strain on the NHS during flu season.

Plus, it’s ok to have the flu jab when pregnant or if you’re taking antibiotics.

Who Shouldn’t Have The Flu Jab?

Most people can have a flu vaccine. However, there are a couple of exceptions:

– If you are currently unwell with a fever, you should delay getting the jab.
– If you have an egg allergy, first speak to your GP or pharmacist.

Who Is Eligible For A Free Flu Vaccine On The NHS?

The flu vaccine is free for people in high-risk groups. You qualify for a free vaccine if you are in one of the following categories:

– People aged 50 years or over
– Adults aged from 18 years to under 50 years in a clinical risk group
– Pregnant women
– Those in long-stay residential care homes
– Carers
– Frontline health and social care staff

Your pharmacist will check if you qualify for a flu vaccination on the NHS. If you don’t qualify for a free injection, you can still have the jab privately. Getting your Flu Vaccine directly from your pharmacist will save you time and will be a more convenient process.

When should I have the Flu Vaccine?

The best time to have the vaccination is from early October to the end of November. This is the ideal time but you can have it later during the winter.

What Are The Flu Vaccine Side Effects?

The flu vaccine is a safe and effective method of fighting the flu. If you experience any flu jab side effects, they are likely to be mild. Side effects include:

– Mild fever
– Aching muscles
– Sore arm where you were injected
– Headache
– Tiredness or feeling under the weather
– Blocked or runny nose
Some people also lose their appetite following the flu jab. Serious side effects of the injected flu vaccine are very rare.

Please note: From Thursday 7th of October at 9am we will be doing a walk-in clinic for Private Flu vaccines aged 18-64. On Thursday and Friday mornings. This walk-in service is £15.

We currently have no NHS vaccines in stock but will be doing these vaccines when stock arrives. In the meantime, patients are advised to go to the appointment given (especially if had covid vaccine over 6 months ago, as they may be offered their booster) and if they can not make the appointment they should rearrange it using the phone number on their letter.

Get your Flu Vaccine in Edinburgh today by visiting our pharmacy or contact us to find out more.