Vaccinations
Autumn/winter COVID and Flu vaccines
Full information about eligibility and winter vaccines can be found at NHS Inform's winter vaccines pages.
All Covid and flu enquiries, or any changes to appointments should be directed to the National Call Centre on 0800 030 8013 or the booking portal.
Eligible patients will be contacted either by letter, text or email depending on their preferences. Patients are advised to wait until they are contacted.
Housebound patients have received a letter already, advising that they don’t need to call us. The vaccination team have started these visits, which will continue to the end of December. Visits will continue in the New Year if required.
Care Homes in Midlothian: many residents have now been vaccinated, with all care home residents having had initial visits. Dates will be arranged for any further vaccination activity in the coming months.
In-patients at Midlothian Community Hospital: staff have visited the wards to vaccinate in-patients. Vaccinations were offered to ward staff at the same time. Vaccination activity continues.
Key changes to eligibility this year
- Carers (including unpaid and young carers) and household contacts of people with weakened immune systems are no longer eligible for COVID-19 vaccination but continue to be encouraged to accept the offer of flu vaccination.
- People aged 50-64 who do not have a health condition that puts them at increased risk of flu are no longer eligible for the flu vaccine, unless they are also in an eligible category.
- Teachers and school support staff are no longer eligible for the flu vaccine (unless they work with children/in an area where children have additional support needs).
- Prison staff are no longer eligible for the flu vaccine.
Vaccinations clinics in Midlothian autumn/winter 2024
| Venue | Opening hours (closed public holidays) |
| Midlothian Community Hospital 70 Eskbank Road, EH22 3ND |
Monday to Sunday, 08:30-16:30 Closed for lunch 12:30 to 13:15 |
| Dalkeith Medical Practice, 24-26 St Andrew St, Dalkeith EH22 1AP |
Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Closed for lunch 12:30 to 13:15 |
| Eastfield Medical Practice, Eastfield Farm Road, Penicuik EH26 8EZ |
Monday 08:30-17:00 Closed for lunch 12:30 to 13:15 Friday 13:00-17:00 |
Other National Vaccination Campaigns - PAUSED
RSV Programme
The RSV campaign has paused for autumn/winter 2024 to allow boards to prioritise the delivery of COVID and flu vaccines.
Further guidance regarding the next RSV campaign is pending. Patients do not need to get in touch - those eligible will be contacted in due course.
For more information about RSV, particularly about eligibility, which is based on age and not health, please visit NHS Inform's RSV page.
Shingles and Pneumococcal Programmes
This campaign has been paused but restarts in early January 2025. Eligible patients do not need to get in touch about the service and will be contacted in due course.
For more information about Shingles please visit www.nhsinform.scot/shingles
For more information about Pneumococcal please visit NHS Inform's Pneumococcal vaccine pages.
If patients have a query about Shingles, Pneumococcal, RSV and non-routine vaccinations please call 0300 790 6296.
Health professionals have a referral route for patients they deem as requiring urgent or non-routine vaccinations.
(Last updated on October 18 2024)