Help us help you this winter by getting your flu
vaccination – it’s free because you need it
Help us help you stay well this winter by getting your free
flu vaccination if you are eligible.
Flu is a highly infectious virus that occurs every year,
usually in winter. Symptoms include a high temperature, body aches and fatigue.
The vaccine is available free on the NHS for adults aged 65
and over, children, pregnant women and people with certain long term
conditions. These groups are at particular risk from flu and vaccination is the
best protection we have against an unpredictable virus. That’s why the flu
vaccine is free – because eligible groups really need it.
Underlying conditions
Flu is a highly infectious disease and can lead to serious
complications if you have an underlying health condition such as COPD,
bronchitis, emphysema, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease
or a chronic neurological disease like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy.
Flu on top of health conditions like these increases your chance of serious
health complications and a hospital visit.
Adults aged 65 and over
The flu vaccination continues to be available to adults aged
65 years old and over, who are more vulnerable and may suffer more than most
people if they catch flu. This year a more effective vaccine is being given to
those aged 65 and over, which is proven to give better protection against flu
for people of this age.
Children
Flu can be nasty for little children. Children also tend to
be super-spreaders of flu so if they get it, they are likely to infect more
vulnerable older family members. Children who get flu have the same symptoms as
adults – including fever, chills, aching muscles, headache, stuffy nose, dry
cough and sore throat. Some children develop a very high fever or complications
of flu, such as bronchitis or pneumonia and may need hospital treatment. The
flu vaccine will help protect your child from flu and also reduce the chance of
it spreading on to others. For most children, the flu vaccine is not usually an
injection, just a quick and easy nasal spray. Children aged 2 and 3 receive the
vaccine through their GP and children reception and school years 1, 2, 3, 4 and
5 receive it in school. If you have a child who is of the eligible age, make
sure you sign the consent form allowing them to have the flu vaccine at school.
Pregnant women
Pregnancy naturally
weakens the body’s immune system and as a result flu can cause serious
complications for you and your baby. One of the most common complications of
flu is bronchitis, a chest infection that can become serious and develop into
pneumonia. If you have flu while you're pregnant, it could mean your baby is
born prematurely or has a low birthweight, and may even lead to stillbirth or
death. You may be less able to fight off infections, increasing the risk of
becoming ill from flu. The flu jab is the safest way to help protect you and
your baby against flu, no matter how many months pregnant you are or however
fit and healthy you may feel.
If you are eligible
for the flu vaccine, get it now. Contact your general practice, pharmacist or
midwife to get it.
Visit www.nhs.uk/fluvaccine
for more information.
