Does anyone know if you can pay private to have the kids nasal flu vaccine?

[Ilmb]

Both dc have asthma, I signed the form to say youngest won’t have it in school next month as I take them both to have it at the doctors (eldest secondary age) and the school do it too late in the year in my opinion. Meant to hve it earlier this month but they cancelled it, was next week and had another message saying not enough vaccines so have to change it AGAIN for another 2 weeks taking us into November.

Does anyone know if you can pay to have it anywhere? And no they won’t have the injection so please don’t suggest that, I just want to know if you can buy the nasal spray.

Hi op I've just had a quick Google on this and there was a post on this exact situation on NM and there is an email address that you can request a list of all pharmacies in your area that offer the nasal flu vaccine for children. I screenshotted it so will add now.

Iv already filled he form out to say youngest isn’t having it done at the school so it’s too late as the forms have been sent off. He always has it done at the surgery as they do it much earlier (normally!) and I take them both and myself and we all get them done at the same time.

Sorry cross post! Thanks zoflora will give that a go.

We ordered our vaccine for this years vaccination programme nearly a year ago. What we cannot control is when the vaccine is delivered . It is delivered in stages and we plan our clinics around this. We actually wouldn't have enough fridge space to store all the vaccine if it was all delivered in one hit!

Yup same here Ocies.

And when they fail to deliver it’s us that’s stuffed.

I wish some people realised just how complicated the flu programme is. And how we don’t have unlimited supplies of vaccines to offer all and sundry, and that flu clinics are scheduled around room and staff availability. We still have all our other work to do as well!

I appreciate how annoying it is when things get cancelled, rescheduled and delayed but it’s annoying for us too.

zoflora that company has now closed so they can’t help, thanks though.

I understand the surgeries have no control over their orders etc but my surgery didn’t advertise one clinic that I could’ve easily attended, then the next one cancelled, then the second one cancelled and who’s to say the next one won’t be? Every time Iv had to prepare my autistic son in advance or I can’t get him there, each time they cancel increases his anxiety he’s on. Medication for and he loses trust in the doctors because of it.

You probably have, but have you tried the pharmacies at supermarkets?
Our local Asda always seems to have stocks of flu vaccines, even when the local Drs are postponing appts.

(Obviously there could be a million and 1 local reasons for this)

Did you call them to ask about flu clinics? Maybe next winter call them mid September to ask about all their clinics so you can get in to the most convenient one.

We don’t advertise widely, but put signs up in the surgery, put notes on repeat scripts, put info on the website.

Appointments go like hot cakes, we can book up 300 appointments in the space of 3 hours!

there is a delay of flu vaccine, production takes a while and companies are just about catching up.

if your dc has asthma, the nasal spray vaccine is not recommended.

Not entirely true redsummer.

The nasal spray is not recommended for children with severe asthma, and those on oral steroids.

Those children will have been identified as unable to have the nasal vaccine and will have had the injectable vaccine set aside for them.

Children with asthma using one or two inhalers, and that are well controlled are fine to have the nasal spray (barring any other issues).

thanks for explaining sidge
we were told to make a gp apoinment for vaccine for dc with allergic asthma.

Virgin Health Care will do it but it may depend how local they are to you. I spent a while trying to find it for my DD as her school is not scheduled until Jan (managed to get it done at the GPS in the end). I didn't get round to contacting them but Superdrug pharmacies appeared to do too.

Not much use for this year but might be helpful for next; I always have my annual asthma review late sept/early Oct and I ask for my flu jab then, meaning that I don't have to attend a separate clinic.

Seems a bit unnecessary redsummer but obviously I don’t know the issues!

OP I hope you get it sorted soon but please don’t get too worried, November is nearly here and hopefully your kids can get done soon.

Virgin don’t do it, just rang them. Will try Superdrug. Not holding my breath though as no one else seems to!

That's weird, they were emailing me every day to try and book me in! 
That was the Birmingham clinic.

I just rang the main number this morning? The woman had no idea about it and no idea who else I could try!

@Ilmb here you go... www.virgincareprivate.co.uk/private-gp/travel-vaccinations-and-immunisations

If you are in Kent, Hadlow Pharmacy do it privately. Just a normal pharmacy that has a small travel clinic. DS, 12, is having his next week. We did it there last year too and there were a lot of children there from quite far afield. I found it from extensive googling!

Contact the school office and the school nursing team. I doubt it's too late. Firstly, it's anything like my school there will be lots of stragglers that haven't filled the forms out that they will still be chasing up so the numbers won't be set in stone. Secondly, they will probably be quite happy to dig through the pile of forms and swap it as they want the kids to have it done! Are you sure the letters have been sent off? They lived in a folder in a filing cabinet in my school office until the nursing team came on the day.

Virgin said they definitely don’t do it.

one what town is that near? Depending what end of Kent may not be too far ...

Yes forms have definitely gone off as I asked

Near Tonbridge-that’s the nearest big town I think and Hadlow is a big village. They have a website and you call them to book.