Flu Vaccination programme
The flu vaccination programme in Scotland runs from October 2020 until March 2021. Vaccinations will take place at GP Surgeries, Pharmacies and Community Hub Venues as listed below.
Phase one of the Flu vaccination programme covers the high risk groups who will receive their vaccines in October and November 2020. This includes primary school children, children aged 2 to 5 (children must be aged 2 years or above on 1 September 2020 and not yet in school), anyone aged 65 and over (by 31 March 2021), anyone with an eligible health condition, pregnant women, healthcare workers, unpaid and young carers and social care workers who provide direct personal care.
Phase two will commence in December 2020. This will include those aged 55 to 64 (by 31 March 2021) who were not previously eligible and those living in the same home as people previously shielding from Covid-19. Anyone who was unable to attend their appointment in Phase 1 for any reason will also be able to get vaccinated in this second phase.
Flu Invitation Letter
Everyone who is eligible to receive a free flu vaccine will receive an invitation to attend a flu clinic. Letters are being sent out in batches as part of a rolling programme so not everyone will receive a letter at the same time.
The national system used to issue invites uses each person’s name and address as they are held by GPs. Unfortunately, the system is unable to appoint people in accordance to address. This means that occasionally people who live in the same household may receive appointments at different times. If it is more suitable, people from the same household can select one appointment time and attend together.
What should I do if I need to change my appointment?
If you need to change your appointment you can email fv.fvadultflu-appointments@nhs.scot or call the telephone number on your invite letter to make alternative arrangements.
Please make sure to include the following details:
- Contact telephone number (preferably mobile number so that we can send your appointment details to this number)
- CHI number (you will find this on your appointment letter)
- Date of birth
- Forename
- Surname
- Date and venue of original appointment
You can also contact NHS Forth Valley’s flu helpline on 0800 1303120 which is open from 8.00am – 8.00pm Monday and Friday and 8.00am – 4.30pm at weekends.
The phone lines are less busy after 4pm but if you still have issues getting through please email fv.fvadultflu-appointments@nhs.scot and a member of the team will get back to you.
Attending your flu vaccination appointment
Please arrive on time for your appointment and do not arrive early to help avoid potential queues and help maintain physical distancing. Attend on your own if you do not require assistance and please bring a copy of your invitation letter if you can.
Wear loose-sleeved clothing and a face covering and use the hand gel provided. If you have any symptoms of coronavirus please contact the flu helpline to rearrange your appointment.
What if I am housebound?
The national invite system used to appoint people to each venue is currently unable to separate those who are housebound so if you are housebound and are known to the district nursing service, then please ignore any invite letter you receive and speak to your district nurse who will be able to arrange to vaccinate you at home.
If you are not known to the district nursing service, please contact NHS Forth Valley’s Flu immunisation team at fv.fvadultflu-appointments@nhs.scot or your GP to request a home visit.
Flu immunisation at community hub venues
Eligible adults who are not able to receive the vaccine at their local GP Practice will be invited to attend a flu vaccination clinic at a number of larger community venues which are able to maintain physical distancing to keep patients and staff safe and meet additional Covid-19 requirements. Additional venues and sessions are also being explored.
Venues use for flu immunisation have to meet a number of strict Covid-19, health & safety and infection control criteria. This includes having sufficient space and separate entrances and exits to support physical distancing, meet accessibly standards, suitable flu vaccine storage facilities (the vaccine has to be stored at the correct temperature in special fridges which require to be calibrated and monitored several times each day and not all venues explored were suitable to host these fridges), good transport links and parking and clinical waste storage and collection facilities.
A number of venues were explored across Forth Valley however several potential venues were unsuitable as they did not meet all of the requirements. The venues chosen have undergone Health & Safety and Infection Control assessments and enable our immunisation team to deliver as many vaccinations to those who are at risk in as quick a time as possible. Additional venues have been added and further venues are also being explored for Phase 2.
Bo’ness Town Hall – 28th September – 6th October
People who are registered with the following practices will be sent an invitation to attend the venue above:
- Forth View Practice
- The Richmond Practice
- Kinglass Medical Practice
Bo’ness Town Hall has parking free parking available.
Falkirk Town Hall – 30th September – 7th November
People who are registered with the following practices will be sent an invitation to attend the venue above:
- Wallace Medical Centre
- Ark Medical Practice
- Meeks Road Surgery
- Graeme Medical Centre
- Camelon Medical Practice
- Meadowbank Health Centre
- Braesview Medical Practice
- Dr C Whitelaw & Partners
- Bonnybank Medical Practice
- Bonnybridge Health Centre
Parking directly in front of the entrance is free and parking is also available at the Municipal Buildings (small fee).
Grangemouth Town Hall – 7th October – 16th October
People who are registered with the following practices will be sent an invitation to attend the venue above:
- Boness Road Medical Practice
- Forth Medical Group (Grangemouth)
Parking available in the Asda car park behind Town Hall. More information can be found here.
Alloa Town Hall – 16th October – 28th October
People who are registered with the following practices will be sent an invitation to attend the venue above:
- Alva Medical Practice
- Dollar Health Centre
- Tillicoultry Medical Practice
Alloa Town Hall has its own free car park. More information can be found here.
Dobbie Hall, Larbert – 28th October – 6th November
People who are registered with the following practices will be sent an invitation to attend the venue above:
- Ochilview Practice
- Stenhouse Practice
- Viewpoint Surgery
- Tryst
- Parkview Practice
Dobbie Hall has a small amount of free parking spaces at the front entrance or Asda car park less than 10min walk away. More information can be found here.
Victoria Hall, Dunblane – 2nd November – 9th November
People who are registered with the following practice will be sent an invitation to attend the venue above:
- Dunblane Medical Practice
Victoria Hall has free on street parking available.
Albert Halls, Stirling – 9th November – 4th December
People who are registered with the following practices will be sent an invitation to attend the venue above:
- Forth Medical Group (Bannockburn)
- Park Avenue Medical Centre
- Allan Park Medical Practice
- The Wallace Medical Practice
- Viewfield Health Centre
- Fallin Health Centre
- Park Terrace Medical Practice
- Orchard House Health Centre
Albert Halls has a small amount of parking spaces at the front entrance with on street parking available (small fee). More information can be found here.
Stirling Rugby Club – 13th November – 21st November
People who are registered with the following practices will be sent an invitation to attend the venue above:
- Bridge of Allan Health Centre
- Airthrey Park Medical Centre
Stirling Rugby Club has its own free car park. More information can be found here.
Alloa Town Hall – 23rd November – 4th December
People who are registered with the following practices will be sent an invitation to attend the venue above:
- Dr Sime & Partners
- The Whins Medical
- Clackmannan & Kincardine
- Forth Medical Group (Sauchie)
Alloa Town Hall has its own free car park. More information can be found here.
Flu immunisation at GP practices
Most children aged 2-5 will be vaccinated at their local GP Practice (in Clackmannanshire pre-school aged children will be vaccinated by NHS Forth Valley’s immunisation team as part of a pilot project).
Primary school children will be vaccinated at school by NHS Forth Valley Immunisation team and GPs will continue to vaccinate any young people aged 12 – 18 in the higher risk groups.
The following GP Practices are also providing the flu vaccine to local adult patients in the higher risk groups:
- Aberfoyle and Buchlyvie Medical Centre
- Balfron Health Centre
- Callander Medical Practice
- Carron Medical Centre
- Carronbank Medical Practice
- Doune Health Centre
- Drymen Health Centre
- Edenkiln Surgery
- Killearn Health Centre
- Killin Medical Practice
- Kippen Surgery
- Slamannan Medical Practice
- Tor Medical Group
- Tryst Medical Centre
- Westburn Medical Practice
Flu immunisation at local pharmacies
A number of local pharmacies across Forth Valley are offering the vaccine to staff working in the care sector, including staff who deliver care in people’s homes and NHS staff will continue to be vaccinated at work.
Care home residents will be vaccinated by nursing staff working in local care homes and specific arrangements are in place for pregnant women and people undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Clackmannanshire
- Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd, 55 Bridge Street, Dollar
- Well Pharmacy, 60 High Street Alloa
- Lindsay&Gilmour, 81 Main Street, Sauchie
Falkirk
- Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd, Richmond Terrace, Bo’Ness
- Lindsay&Gilmour, The Toll, Bonnybridge
- Boots UK Ltd, 79/91 High Street, Falkirk
- Lindsay&Gilmour, Bonnybridge Health Centre, Larbert Road
- Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd, 334 Thornhill Road, Falkirk
- Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd, Hallam Road, Stenhousemuir Town Centre
- Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd, 316/318 Main Street, Camelon
- Tesco Stores Ltd, Central Retail Park, New Grahams Road
- Lindsay&Gilmour, 16 Central Avenue, Grangemouth
- T Mclean & Sons Ltd, 13 King Street, Stenhousemuir
- Boots UK Ltd, 60 South Street, Bo’Ness
- Well Pharmacy, Unit 2, Carron Centre, Ronades Road
- Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd, 29a La Porte Precinct, Grangemouth
- Well Pharmacy, 120 Kilsyth Road, Haggs
- Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd, 96-98 Grahams Road, Falkirk
- Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd, 338 Main Street, Stenhousemuir
- Hallglen Pharmacy, Unit 2, Hallglen Centre, New Hallglen Road
- Right Medicine Pharmacy, 88 Main Street, Carronshore
- Airth Pharmacy Ltd, 2 Shore Road, Airth
- Deans Pharmacy, 63 Main Road, Maddiston
- Callendar Pharmacy, 171 High Street, Falkirk
Stirling
- Boots UK Ltd, 34-41 Kings Mall, Thistle Shopping Centre
- Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd, 12 Barnton Street, Stirling
- Mr C C Shimmins & Mrs A C Shimmins, 3 The Cross, Doune
- Right Medicine Pharmacy, 11 Main Street, Bannockburn
- Cowie Pharmacy, 32A Main Street, Cowie
- Lindsay&Gilmour, 15 Bannockburn Road, St Ninians
- Superdrug Stirling, Unit 2, Orchilview Mall, Thistle Centre, Goosecroft Road
- Right Medicine Pharmacy, The Shopping Precinct, Andrew Miller Building
- A G Bannerman Ltd, 4 Anderson Street, Well Place
- A G Bannerman Ltd, 48 High Street, Dunblane
- Fallin Pharmacy, 8 The Square, Fallin
- Lindsay&Gilmore, 5 Firs Entry, Bannockburn
- Davidsons Chemist, 10 Southview Road, Strathblane
- Cambusbarron Pharmacy, 4 Main Street, Cambusbarron
- Davidsons Chemist, Eastmost Shop, Myrtle Grove
- Davidsons Chemist, 44 Main Street, Drymen
- Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd, Sainsbury Store Off, Drip Road/Back O’Hill Road
- Aberfoyle Pharmacy, Main Street, Aberfoyle
General Flu enquiries and information
More information on flu vaccination can be found on NHS Inform or you can email fv.fvadultflu-enquiries@nhs.scot.