LATEST UPDATES – October 2025
Winter Vaccines
If you’re offered the flu vaccine, you’ve got a reason to get it
Flu hits hard, and for some, it hits harder. Last winter, Scotland experienced very high levels of flu, with more than 6,500 adults becoming so ill that they were admitted to hospital.
From w/c 22 September 2025 the winter vaccination campaign will commence across Orkney. All the information regarding appointments is below:
- For all mainland and non-ferry linked isles patients – please keep an eye on the post as you will be sent a letter with details of your appointment. If you signed up for text/email appointments, then look out for those too. All of these appointments will take place at The Balfour
- For Stromness practice patients – you will be communicated with directly by the practice
- For ferry linked isles patients – you will be communicated with directly by your practice
- For care home residents – the vaccination team will visit care homes throughout the winter programme
- For anyone pregnant – you will receive communication via the maternity department
Getting your winter vaccines is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and those around you, reducing the risk of serious illness and hospital admission
To check if you are eligible for the winter vaccines, please head to, Winter vaccines | NHS inform. For awareness, please note the eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine has changed this year.
The NHS in Scotland is also offering the free flu vaccine this winter to those at risk of exposure to avian (bird) flu. You’re eligible for a free vaccine if you:
- work at, or regularly visit, poultry units and poultry processing units (including inspection staff)
- cull and/or clean at confirmed bird flu outbreak premises
- are likely to be handling live unwell birds where bird flu is suspected
- are involved in the collection of wild or domestic bird carcasses where bird flu is suspected, including sea birds.
While the vaccine doesn’t protect against bird flu, it can reduce the risk of a new flu virus forming which could happen if you’re exposed to both human flu and bird flu at the same time.
COVID-19 vaccine
In addition to the flu vaccine, some people may also be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this year. Eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). This guidance is reviewed every year so it’s important to check what vaccines you are eligible for this year.
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine and to find out if you’re eligible, visit www.nhsinform.scot/wintervaccines
Flu Vaccine Clinics for Children aged between 2 and 5 years old
The flu vaccine is given as a nasal (nose) spray, it is quick, easy, and painless.
For those children aged between 2 and 5 years old (not in school) and registered with Stromness Surgery or on the ferry linked isles, your practices will be in touch with you directly regarding flu vaccines.
For children registered with Skerryvore, Heilendi, Dounby or Daisy Villa Practices, from Friday 3 October 2025, we will be offering drop-in flu clinics at The Balfour for all those children aged between 2 and 5 years old (not already in school).
Find out more about clinic dates and times on the link here.
Vaccines for Students
Make sure your vaccines are up to date
Infectious diseases such as meningitis and measles can spread easily in university and college communities. Vaccination offers the best protection against these diseases, which is why it’s important to check you’re up to date with your vaccines before returning after the summer break.
International students
If you’ve moved to Scotland from overseas, make sure you’ve received the vaccinations offered for free by the NHS in Scotland. You may be able to get additional vaccines that were not available where you lived before.
MenACWY
The MenACWY vaccine offers protection against some of the common causes of meningitis. Students are at higher risk of meningitis, which can be severe and life-threatening. For more information visit Meningitis and septicaemia | Meningitis Research Foundation
MMR
The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Parts of the UK and other countries across the world have seen an increase in the number of people getting measles in the last year. Evidence suggests students are at higher risk than the general population and that is why it’s important to check you’ve had two doses of the MMR vaccine.
HPV
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps protect against HPV-related cancers including head, neck and cervical cancer. It also protects against over 90% of genital wart infections. Most students will have had the HPV vaccine at secondary school but if not, you may still be able to get it up until the age of 25.
Find out more visit Vaccines for students | NHS inform
Travel Vaccinations
Please access the link here to find out more about Travel Vaccinations: Visit the Travel Vaccinations Page
Childhood Vaccinations
Some changes are being made to the routine childhood vaccination schedule in July 2025. If your child has not yet attended their 12-week appointment, they will now be offered their MenB vaccine at 12 weeks and pneumococcal vaccine at 16 weeks. You do not have to do anything. Your child will receive an appointment letter when they are eligible.
Speak to your health visitor, midwife, vaccination service, GP, community nurse, practice nurse, community pharmacy or another healthcare practitioner for more information. Check what vaccinations your child is eligible at www.nhsinform.scot
If you need to change your child’s appointment time the vaccination service would be happy to help on 0300 303 5313.
Please note that Stromness Surgery and ferry linked isles surgeries will provide this service to their patients.
Baby Immunisations
The Kirkwall Vaccination Team will deliver this service, and it will primarily be delivered within The Balfour for all Heilendi and Skerryvore patients. A visiting service will be provided by the NHS Orkney Vaccination Team to both Daisy Villa Medical Practice and Dounby Surgery. Patients will be invited by letter.
If you have missed your appointment or have any other queries please call the Vaccination Team on 0300 303 5313.
Please note Stromness Surgery and ferry linked isles surgeries will provide this service to their patients
School Immunisations
The NHS Orkney Vaccination Team will deliver this service, and it will be delivered within the schools.
If you have missed your appointment or have any other queries please call the Vaccination Team on 0300 303 5313.
Please note ferry linked isles provide this service to their patients
Pneumococcal
If you have missed your appointment or have any other queries please call the Vaccination Team on 0300 303 5313.
Please note Stromness Surgery and ferry linked isles surgeries will provide this service to their patients
Shingles
Anyone in Orkney who is currently eligible for shingles vaccination has been invited. Letters to newly at risk patients are also sent throughout the year.
The NHS Orkney Vaccination Team delivers this service for the majority of Orkney residents and it is delivered within the Vaccination Service at The Balfour.
If you have missed your appointment or have any other queries please call the Vaccination Team on 0300 303 5313.
Please note Stromness Surgery and ferry linked isles surgeries provide this service to their patients.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine
Anyone in Orkney who is currently eligible for RSV vaccination has been invited.
The NHS Orkney Vaccination Team delivers this service for the majority of Orkney residents and it is delivered within the Vaccination Service at The Balfour.
If you have missed your appointment or have any other queries please call the Vaccination Team on 0300 303 5313.
Please note Stromness Surgery and ferry linked isles surgeries provide this service to their patients.