With flu season upon us, there’s no time like the present to book in for the flu vaccine, because let’s face it, if it’s a choice between a simple injection or a week of feeling miserable with a high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache and cough, we know which one we’d choose!

Influenza, most commonly referred to as ‘the flu’, is an infectious disease caused by a virus and spread through the air via coughs and sneezes. Symptoms can range in severity, but clinical risk groups risk further complications such as sinus infections, worsening of previous health problems such as asthma, and viral pneumonia.

Who can get the flu vaccine?

Those that fall within one of the clinical risk groups, including asthmatics, diabetics or those aged over 65, are entitled to receive the flu vaccine free from their NHS practice. However, it’s important to remember that whether you’re young or old, male or female, anyone can catch the flu. That’s why at YourGP, unlike the NHS, our vaccine is available to anyone who wants it, from as young as six months old.

We run annual flu vaccination clinics seven days a week in our Edinburgh clinic between September and February, while stocks last.

Flu vaccinations for companies in Edinburgh

As well as offering flu vaccines to the general public, we also provide vaccination programmes for companies of all sizes across Edinburgh.

That’s because flu is highly infectious, and if your staff work in close proximity to each other, it’s likely to spread among your employees and be a major cause of sickness absence.

So by simply getting staff vaccinated as part of a company-wide vaccination programme, you’ll minimise the risk of sickness absence, and reduce the need for staff to take time off work to visit their GP.

Not only that, with workplace absence due to sickness costing an average of £595 per employee per year, getting staff vaccinated can save you money too.

We’re able to adapt to your employees’ busy schedules, and we can even attend your company premises. What’s more, discounts are available for group vaccinations, dependant on the numbers.

Childhood flu vaccinations

As we mentioned earlier, the vaccine, a single injection, is not only available to adults – it’s available to children from six months old too.

It’s vital that your child has all their necessary routine childhood vaccinations, including flu, and at YourGP, we’ll ensure receiving the vaccine is as stress-free an experience as possible – for you and your child. Our childcare team, led by specialist children’s doctor, Katie Cathrow, are highly skilled at keeping children calm and relaxed – and reassuring anxious parents too.

To arrange flu vaccinations for you, your staff, or your children, use our booking form or get in touch with our clinics directly.

You can call the Edinburgh clinic on 0131 225 5656 or email reception@your.gp

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