Seasonal flu vaccination - should you be having it?
People should not underestimate the effects of seasonal flu - It's not the same as the common cold. Flu is caused by a different group of viruses and symptoms tend to be more severe and last for longer. You can catch flu all year round but it is more common in the winter which is why it is called seasonal flu.
Anyone can get flu but certain people are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill if they catch it, which may require hospital treatment. Flu can be more serious if you are aged 65 or over, if you have a medical condition (even if you feel fit and healthy and your condition is under control) or if you are pregnant.
Who should have the seasonal flu vaccination?
- Everyone aged 65 years and over
- Pregnant women (see below)
- People under 65 (including children) with long term medical conditions such as :
- A heart problem
- A chest complaint or breathing difficulties
- A kidney disease
- Lowered immunity due to disease or medical treatment
- A liver disease
- Had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- Diabetes
- A neurological condition, e.g. multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy
- A spleen problem or sickle cell disease
- People who live in a residential or nursing home
- People who are the main carer for a disabled or older person
Pregnant women
It is recommended that all pregnant women should have the seasonal flu vaccine irrespective of their stage of pregnancy, as there is good evidence to suggest that pregnant women have an increased risk of developing complications if they get flu.
Studies have also shown that the inactivated flu vaccine can be safely and effectively administered during any trimester of pregnancy. The vaccine itself does not present an increased risk of complications to either the mother or baby.
If you are the parent of a child (over six months) with a long-term condition, speak to your GP about the flu vaccine. Your child's condition may get worse if they catch flu.
If you are at an increased risk from seasonal flu it is important that you have your seasonal flu vaccination. Don’t wait until there’s a flu outbreak this winter, contact your GP or practice nurse now to get your FREE seasonal flu jab.
The flu vaccine
The types of virus in circulation change every year and so each year a vaccine is developed to protect against the strains of flu virus that are expected to be most prevalent. It is therefore important that those at risk ensure they receive the vaccine annually to protect themselves.
The flu vaccine doesn’t contain any live viruses, so it can’t cause flu. Flu vaccines also have excellent safety records - side effects are rare and minor compared to the risks associated with flu. The most common reactions are a sore arm or possibly feeling hot.
Preventing the spread of flu
The best way to avoid flu is to get immunised, but in addition, people can protect themselves and those around them by practising good hand hygiene with the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ technique. This means carrying tissues, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, disposing of the tissue after one use, and cleaning hands as soon as possible with soap and water or an alcohol hand gel.
For further information, please visit www.nhs.uk/flu.
Seasonal flu jab Frequently Asked Questions.