FLU CLINIC – open for booking – Saturday 4th October2025
We must make best and most efficient use of our team and your time again this year, and as our flu clinic with drive through option over the last few years has been very successful we are running ONE clinic again this year.
We aim to vaccinate everyone quickly by offering a single clinic on 4th October however, we will offer a clinic for the small number of patients who are away on 4th October and additional clinics if we have any vaccine left.
Anyone who has received an invite can book this clinic. You will have received a text message if you have a suitable mobile phone, and we have your up to date number! Everyone eligible will also receive a letter which is your ticket for the clinic. To minimise disruption to our phone lines please book with the Practice via the NHS app, or other apps you may use. Please select an appropriate slot for your age, this is important! Appointments are now live on our system.
Click this link for the NHS app for booking on computer or on your phone if you download the app.
You can phone reception, after 11am please, if you don’t have technology to book yourself.
Book by your app/NHS app or Patient Access
PLEASE book by online via your usual app or NHS app if you can. You’ll be able to see all the available time slots for inside and DRIVE THRU.
PLEASE be sure to book the correct time slot for your age! This matters to ensure we don’t run out of vaccine
PLEASE be sure to book a slot for EACH person attending. If you can’t find slots next to each other, please book the closest slots. It’ll be fine!
This is NOT a Walk-in clinic. Our counting system is based on booked appointments and it’s how we make sure we have enough vaccine for everyone booked. We ran out last year.
Appointments are available either INSIDE the building or for our DRIVE THROUGH clinic where you will stay in your car. If you are booking the drive through clinic please book for each person you are bringing – they MUST have a letter/ticket – we can vaccinate 4 people per car, providing the rear windows come down.
We advise patients with reduced mobility to book the drive thru so you don’t need to leave your car.
Influenza is a virus that infects many people each year, causing severe illness and sometimes death. The flu vaccination provides the best possible protection against this unpredictable virus. The vaccination is free and recommended yearly for those who are most at risk of contracting influenza.
The letter we send is your vaccination invitation AND your TICKET for the clinic. You MUST bring this letter with you to your appointment.
If you are eligible for an influenza vaccination this year, we will be sending or have sent a letter and a text message inviting you to make an appointment.
• Everyone age 65 years and over will receive a letter.
• The reports we run to determine who is at risk under 65 years are not perfect! If you haven’t received a letter and think you may be eligible please let us know, and why, using the online triage service . That way we can text you back and get you booked if appropriate.
• If you are a carer under 65 years you are eligible for a flu vaccination. If this is you, and you haven’t received a letter please let us know so we can ‘code’ your records and send you a letter. Let us know using the online triage service giving brief details of who you care for.
• We will look at every request and let you know promptly. If we find that you are eligible we will send you a letter and you can book online.
It’s helpful if you would let us know your mobile telephone number (and your spouse/partners) so that we can text message information about flu vaccination booking and clinic updates faster than in the post which will give you a better choice of appointment slots.
PLEASE book via the NHS app, on your phone, or tablet, or computer. You MUST have received a letter to book. If you haven’t and think you should have please telephone our reception.
We are only giving flu vaccinations in the clinic this year.
Invitations for Covid booster for 75yrs+ and newly immunocompromised will be sent by the national team. Please check your phones, and those of your 75+ relatives. We are aware the national team sent the invites by text message in Spring🙄 Our covid clinic is on 11th October and we will invite eligible patients directly, usually by Text message if we have a mobile number on record.
We have 5 nurses and a complement of admin team and marshals on duty throughout the day to ensure the clinic runs smoothly. We may offer additional clinics later in the year IF we have any vaccine left however we urge you to book into this one to ensure your immunity early in this year’s flu season.
Our staff have short 15-minute breaks at 11am and 2:30pm, their lunch break is 12:30pm – 1pm. NO flu vacs will be given during these times. Please don’t get upset with our team, they give up their weekend to organise the clinic for you.
If this is your first Flu vaccination you should book the indoor clinic.
To avoid congestion in the clinics please arrive AT your appointment time and not before.
You MUST complete the checklist on the reverse of your letter BEFORE coming to clinic and bring this letter with you to your appointment. It’s your ticket for your Flu jab.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION – PLEASE READ
How do I make my appointment?
Book online or via your app/NHS app if possible. Our phone lines will be busy. Book your preferred FLU clinic – ‘Indoor’ or ‘Drive Through’ AND for each person you are bringing – they MUST have a letter/ticket – we can vaccinate 4 people per car, providing the rear windows come down. If this is your FIRST flu vaccination, please book indoors
What will happen when I arrive?
Drive through: We use Woodlands school minibus drop off lane for the clinic and operating a ONE-WAY system. Enter from the East Park Drive end of Wilkinson Avenue, to the rear of the school. You will not gain entry from the Whitegate Health Centre site as this is the clinic exit. Stay in your car and approach the vaccination canopy very slowly. Come to a complete stop under the canopy and engage the hand brake when asked. You will receive your vaccination through your car window. Most cars can drive off immediately. Take care for oncoming traffic from the right when leaving the vaccination lane via the Whitegate Health Centre site.
Indoor: Park as you normally would then join our Practice queue for vaccination. If the car park is full, be aware that there is no restriction on parking on surrounding streets at weekends so you CAN park there. Our staff will direct you to the next free vaccination station. It’s unlikely you will have opportunity to sit down! Following feedback, this year you will exit the Practice the way you came in.
What do I need to do?
Clothing: There is minimal privacy in the clinic so please wear appropriate clothing so you can expose your preferred upper arm very quickly to receive your flu vaccination. Our staff cannot assist you to remove layers of clothing due to risk of cross infection.
YOU MUST BRING YOUR LETTER WITH YOU. It is your TICKET for vaccination. Our nursing staff will not give flu vaccinations to anyone who attends without their letter. YOU MUST complete the checklist below BEFORE you arrive for your appointment. We do not supply Pens and clipboards.
How long will it take?
Drive Through: Progress is usually very quick as you will not leave your vehicle. Take care for oncoming traffic from the right when leaving the vaccination lane via the Whitegate Health Centre site.
Indoor: You’ll move quickly through the clinic and will not be able to sit down. Our nursing staff ordinarily love to chat so please don’t be offended if they don’t as we need to keep the line moving.
What do I do after I’ve had my vaccination?
You can leave the site immediately unless this is your first flu vaccination as our nursing staff might ask you to remain on the premises for a short while. If you have inadvertently used the drive through, you will be directed to a waiting area – Please don’t book the drive thru if it’s your first flu vaccination!