Flu, Shingles and Meningitis B Vaccinations at The Brook Surgery
Vaccination offers effective protection against many preventable illnesses. At The Brook Surgery, our flu Vaccine Clinic provides seasonal and longer-term vaccinations for patients and their families.
We currently offer seasonal flu vaccination, Shingrix® for shingles and Bexsero® for meningitis B.
Not sure which vaccinations you need? Our team can review your vaccination history and advise you.
Seasonal Flu Vaccination
Our annual flu vaccination programme starts each autumn, ahead of the main winter flu season.
Flu can cause significant illness. Older adults and people with certain long-term health conditions face a greater risk of complications.
We encourage patients in recognised at-risk groups to keep their flu vaccination up to date each year.
Many other patients also choose an annual flu vaccination for additional protection during the winter.
Our autumn flu appointments normally start in late September.
Shingles Vaccination – Shingrix®
The chickenpox virus can reactivate later in life and cause shingles. Your risk increases with age, along with the risk of complications.
One of the most troublesome complications is post-herpetic neuralgia. This can cause persistent nerve pain for months after the shingles rash disappears. Shingles can also affect the eye or ear and sometimes causes more serious complications.
We offer Shingrix®, a shingles vaccine given as a two-dose course.
Adults aged 50 and over can receive Shingrix. You may particularly benefit from discussing vaccination with us if age, illness or treatment increases your vulnerability to infection.
Shingles Vaccination and Dementia Research
Recent research has also explored a possible link between shingles vaccination and a lower incidence of dementia.
These findings are encouraging, but researchers have not established that shingles vaccination prevents dementia.
The main reason to receive Shingrix remains protection against shingles and its complications. Any effect on dementia risk currently represents a possible additional benefit rather than an established indication.
Meningitis B Vaccination – Bexsero®
Meningitis B is an uncommon but potentially serious bacterial infection. It can cause meningitis and septicaemia and may progress very quickly.
Bexsero® protects against meningococcal group B disease, commonly known as MenB.
The UK childhood vaccination programme has routinely offered MenB vaccination to babies since 2015. As a result, some older children and young adults may not have received it during childhood.
This can become particularly relevant before university.
Students often live in halls or shared accommodation and mix closely with many new people. This can increase exposure to meningococcal bacteria.
If your teenager or young adult is preparing for university, we can check their vaccination history. We can then advise whether MenB vaccination would be appropriate.
Teenagers and young adults receiving Bexsero for the first time usually require two doses at least four weeks apart.
Can I Have More Than One Vaccine at the Same Appointment?
Often, yes.
Our clinicians can administer flu, shingles and MenB vaccinations during the same appointment when this is clinically appropriate.
If you need several vaccinations, our team will advise you on the most suitable timing.
Book Your Vaccination
You may be preparing for the winter flu season, considering shingles vaccination or checking your child’s MenB status before university.
You may also simply want to make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
Whatever the reason, we are happy to help.
Our team can review your vaccination history and discuss which vaccinations may suit you. We can also advise on the timing of any doses you need.
One of our doctors or Dennis, our Healthcare Assistant, can administer your vaccination.
