Given current circumstances, flu vaccine procedures are slightly different this year. Please take the time to read the following information.
- People aged 18 – 64 who are in the “at risk” group, will be offered the vaccine at their local GP surgery. Please arrange an appointment now. For those in the ‘AT RISK’ age group, please phone for an appointment.
- Other groups eligible to receive a flu vaccination please read on. The practice will not be supplied vaccinations for other groups and you should receive information from the HSCP. Please do not contact the practice as we don’t have any other information regarding other clinics.
Please read on for more information.
How do I get the vaccine in Renfrewshire?
Due to COVID-19, the way you get your flu vaccination may be different this year. For more information please visit www.nhsinform.scot/flu.
If you are eligible for a flu vaccination, you should receive a letter with instructions on how to receive it. Otherwise, check NHS Inform for instructions. If you receive a letter, please follow the instructions and turn up in good time.
People aged 18 – 64 who are in the “at risk” group, will be offered the vaccine at their local GP surgery. Please arrange an appointment now. We are holding our flu clinic for this AT RISK age group Mon 5th Oct to Fri 9th Oct BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
At-Risk Groups
If you are in one of the following groups you are ‘at-risk’ and should arrange an appointment.
Chronic respiratory disease (aged six months or older)
- Asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and emphysema; bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
- Children who have previously been admitted to hospital for lower respiratory tract disease.
Chronic heart disease (aged six months or older)
Congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronic heart failure, individuals requiring regular medication and/or follow-up for ischaemic heart disease.
Chronic kidney disease (aged six months or older)
Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5, chronic kidney failure, nephritic syndrome, kidney transplantation.
Chronic liver disease (aged six months or older)
Cirrhosis, biliary atresia, chronic hepatitis from any cause such as Hepatitis B and C infections and other non-infective causes
Chronic neurological disease (aged six months or older)
- Stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
- Conditions in which respiratory function may be compromised, due to neurological disease (e.g. polio syndrome sufferers).
- Clinicians should offer immunisation, based on individual assessment, to clinically vulnerable individuals including those with cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis and related or similar conditions; or hereditary and degenerative disease of the nervous system or muscles; or severe neurological or severe learning disability.
Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs, diet controlled diabetes.
Immunosuppression
- Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including patients undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression, bone marrow transplant.
- HIV infection at all stages, multiple myeloma or genetic disorders affecting the immune system (eg IRAK-4, NEMO, complement disorder).
- Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for more than a month at a dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or more per day (any age) or for children under 20kg a dose of 1mg or more per kg per day.
Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
This also includes conditions such as homozygous sickle cell disease and coeliac syndrome that may lead to splenic dysfunction
Other Groups
- Women who are pregnant will be vaccinated by the midwife service.
- Children under five years will be invited to a clinic appointment and school age children will be offered the flu vaccine at school.
- Those no longer at school but not yet 18 will be invited to make an appointment.
- live in the same home as people previously shielding from coronavirus will be invited to make an appointment
- are an unpaid or young carer will be invited to make an appointment
Later Vaccinations
Later in the year, those between 55-64yrs will also be offered the vaccine – further details to follow. If you are in one of the other groups which is eligible for the flu vaccine, for example you have a health condition which puts you at risk from the flu, you will be invited earlier.
For people in Renfrewshire aged 65 and over, we have arranged a single, easy to access vaccination facility at St Mirren Park. This will allow us to make sure the strictest infection prevention and social distancing control measures will be in place during the vaccination process.
Preparing for your vaccine appointment
To avoid crowding only attend at the time of your appointment. Come on your own if you can, unless you need assistance. Wear a short-sleeved top if possible as this will make it easier to deliver the vaccination. Please also remember to wear a face covering and maintain social distancing from other people.
If you are asked to attend an appointment at St Mirren Park, please note that there are NO toilet facilities available on site.
The clinic will only be providing flu vaccine, so if you, or anyone in your household have symptoms, have been asked to self-isolate or have tested positive for COVID-19, do not attend for your appointment. In this case you should continue to self-isolate, book a test if you have not already done so and call 0141 201 4180 to rearrange your flu vaccination appointment for a later date.
If you have any other health concerns, please contact your GP practice.
What should I do if I cannot make the appointment I have been given?
Please call us on 0141 201 4180 to let us know and to rearrange for a more suitable date.
Why do I need to travel to get my vaccination this year?
With COVID-19 still with us and cases on the increase, it is vital that people’s safety is our highest priority. The facility we have created at St Mirren Park will enable us to manage the increased number of people we need to vaccinate this year, while giving us more ability to safely control the flow of people through the vaccination process. It allows us to have trained staff available to guide people as they arrive on site and make sure everyone maintains safe distancing from other people during their visit.
Why does Renfrewshire only have one vaccination facility?
During our planning for this year’s flu vaccination process, we visited several potential locations across Renfrewshire. After an evaluation of each site, it was clear that having a single location at St Mirren Park was the safest and most effective way we could find to achieve the results we need to achieve this year – an increased number of vaccinations carried out in the safest way possible. This location was also preferred because it:
- Is easily accessible by car or public transport for Renfrewshire residents.
- Allows for one-way flow of patients with separate entrance and exit routes.
- Has a large and well-lit car park.
- Is large enough to allow us to vaccinate a large number of people every day, with safe social distancing and safe placement of the required number of vaccination stations.
How do I get to St Mirren Park?
Address: Greenhill Road, Paisley, PA3 1RU
By train: Paisley St James rail station is located almost next to the stadium. It is served by trains from Glasgow Central and Paisley Gilmour Street station. Trains go every half an hour and take only two minutes from Paisley Gilmour Street.
By bus: A variety of bus services travel to the area where St Mirren Park is located. The routes are shown on the following web page: https://bustimes.org/localities/shortroods. For those over the age of 80, or under 80 receiving attendance allowance/disability living allowance at higher rate, you may be able to access the SPT My Bus service. Call 0345 128 4025 for more information or once registered you can book online via the website. MyBus is a bookable bus service offering door-to-door transport and can be used for shopping, GP appointments, visiting friends, attending local clubs, and much more.
By road: Follow signs for Paisley & Glasgow Airport. Exit the M8 at Junction 29 (St James’ Interchange) which is just after Glasgow Airport turn off if travelling east to west. Be careful not to exit on to the A737 which is signposted for Irvine. It is best to stay in the middle lane when passing the Airport as this leads naturally to the St James’ Interchange exit.
At the interchange take the first left onto a dual carriageway with some football parks on the left-hand side. Follow this road and after a sharp right-hand bend you should now be in Greenock Road. Then take your first right on to Clark Street and drive to the end of the street which is the junction with Greenhill Road, turn left and you will see the stadium on the opposite side of the road.
Walking: if you wish to walk from Gilmour Street.
St Mirren Park is approximately one mile from Gilmour Street station. Proceed left onto Old Sneddon Street. The road curves right at the end and you should continue straight onto St. James Street. Continue straight along this road travelling through the railway bridge onto Underwood Road.
Turn right at the Royal Mail offices onto Greenhill Road.