Dear patients,

This year has been more challenging than ever due to COVID-19 pandemic. We have been working very hard behind closed doors to get our flu vaccination clinics up and running as we must ensure patient accessing these clinics can do so in the safest way possible with strict infection control systems and processes in place.

Knowsley CCG contacted all Knowsley based GP practices back in August to provide detail of mass flu vaccination sites which would be arranged by the CCG and to await further communication and instruction. As yet, we are still waiting to receive confirmation on when these sites will be operational and therefore have decided to arrange our own plans in the meantime.

With COVID-19 in mind, we are limited in terms of the locations in which flu clinics are possible due to infection control and ensuring patients move through a one way system. At some of our practice sites, a one way system is not physically possible and therefore we have decided to provide clinics from the following locations:

As of early October, we commenced our flu vaccination clinics at Manor Farm PCRC. We have prioritised our most at risk patients and invited these patients to attend Manor Farm PCRC for their flu vaccination. We invited our at risk patients from all locations to attend Manor Farm until our other clinics are up and running. This patient cohort can decide whether to attend Manor Farm PCRC or wait to attend a clinic nearer to them i.e. Halewood Centre, Whiston PCRC or North Huyton PCRC.

We have shared our plans with Knowsley CCG and have just this week received approval to commence our flu clinics at the proposed sites.  We are now identifying staff that are available to work weekend and evening clinics and we will confirm dates / times shortly. Once these flu clinics are available all eligible cohorts will be contacted either by SMS / telephone / letter inviting them to receive the flu vaccination. As you can appreciate, our plans have to be thought out carefully in light of COVID-19 and we thank you all for your understanding and patience at this time.

You do not need to contact us as we will contact you.

Some Key Messages:

1. It is vital that you DO NOT attend for vaccination if you or a member of your household currently has symptoms of COVID-19 or if you are self-isolating due to contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.
2. You will be required to wear a face covering when attending your flu appointment unless you are under 11 years old or are unable to tolerate a face covering because of a medical condition or a disability
3. You will be required to maintain a 2 metre distance between people whilst you are waiting to receive the flu vaccination both outside and inside the vaccination site.