NHS Orkney Vaccination Programme
LATEST UPDATES - February 2025
Winter Vaccination Programme - Flu Vaccination Drop-in Clinics
This winter there have been high levels of flu circulating in Scotland compared to previous years.
NHS Orkney is reminding eligible individuals, including frontline health and social workers who have not yet received their free flu vaccine to get vaccinated before the vaccination offer ends on 31 March.
Please note the COVID-19 vaccine winter offer ended on 31 January 2025.
Flu Vaccination drop-in clinics
The flu vaccine is offered to help protect those most at risk of serious illness and is being offered until 31 March.
Drop-in clinics have been arranged at The Balfour for those who are eligible and yet to receive a vaccination on the following dates.
Please check in at central reception of The Balfour for all these clinics.
- Tuesday 11 February - Drop in clinics between 1.30pm – 4.30pm (no appointments needed, simply drop in)
- Wednesday 12 February - Drop in clinics between 1.30pm – 4.30pm (no appointments needed, simply drop in)
- Friday 14 February - Drop in clinics between 1.30pm – 4.30pm (no appointments needed, simply drop in)
- Tuesday 18 February - Drop in clinics between 1.30pm – 4.30pm (no appointments needed, simply drop in)
- Friday 21 February - Drop in clinics between 1.30pm – 4.30pm (no appointments needed, simply drop in)
- Monday 24 February - Drop in clinics between 1.30pm – 4.30pm (no appointments needed, simply drop in)
- Friday 28 February - Drop in clinics between 1.30pm – 4.30pm (no appointments needed, simply drop in)
How to make an appointment
For those who are eligible and yet to receive a flu vaccination, please see below:
- Patients registered with Skerryvore, Heilendi, Daisy Villa and Dounby practices should call 0300 303 5313 to arrange an appointment
- All other patients should contact their own practices directly
Why get vaccinated?
Having the flu vaccine helps prevent serious illness from flu and passing it on to others.
Find out if you’re eligible
For more information about who is being offered the flu vaccine, visit: www.nhsinform.scot/wintervaccines
Need help?
For additional help or assistance, you can call the local Vaccination Helpline on 0300 303 5313.
For more information about the vaccine and eligibility, please visit: www.nhsinform.scot/wintervaccines and https://www.nhsinform.scot/flu
Please note the local Vaccination Service has moved within The Balfour. Please make sure you check in for your appointment at Central Reception and they will direct you where to go.
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 your vaccines are up to date before returning this semester.
International students
If you’ve moved to Scotland from overseas, make sure you're up to date with 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 in Europe 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
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
- NHS Scotland will contact you by letter. Please wait to be contacted.
- If your appointment time, date or venue does not suit or you can no longer attend, please rearrange via the online booking portal at https://www.nhsinform.scot/springvaccine or if you don’t have online access call the National Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013. Please note that there may not be availability earlier than your original appointment and you may need to reschedule to a later date instead.
- To schedule/reschedule a spring vaccine appointment for a child 6 months to 11 years, please call the NHS Orkney Vaccination Team on 0300 303 5313.
- You can check eligibility and find trusted, accurate and reliable information that you need to make an informed choice for you or your child on NHS inform: nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/
- If you have not yet come forward for any COVID-19 vaccines or received a COVID-19 vaccination invitation letter, and you are 12 or over, you can register online for an appointment: Login - Customer Service (nhs.scot) . You need to be registered with a GP practice to use this service. If you aren't, you can phone the National vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013.
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.
You can also find out more via the link here.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Pregnant women will be offered RSV immunisation from 28 weeks of their pregnancy. Individuals in Orkney that will be aged 75-79 years on 1 August 2025 will receive an appointment letter to be vaccinated by the NHS Orkney Vaccination Team.
The Vaccination Team can be contacted on 0300 303 5313.
Please note that Stromness Surgery and ferry linked isles surgeries will provide this service to their patients.
You can also find out more via the link here.
Travel Vaccinations
Please access the link below to find out more about Travel Vaccinations.
Visit the Travel Vaccinations Page