Regardless of the current sizzling and sunny climate, winter is coming, and with it comes an elevated threat of catching flu. Flu can depart many people feeling dreadful and laid up in mattress for days, however for sure teams, the consequences may be extra extreme and even life-threatening.
Who’s most in danger?
Folks in older age teams, kids 2 to three years outdated, pregnant ladies and people with sure well being situations are most vulnerable to getting severely ailing with flu. However the excellent news is that they may also help shield themselves by getting the flu vaccine.
Who’s eligible?
If you happen to’re weak to flu you need to reap the benefits of the vaccine to maintain your self effectively and winter sturdy.
The next teams are eligible for a free flu vaccine:
- All adults aged 65 and over
- Anybody underneath 65 with sure well being situations like diabetes, coronary heart illness, some neurological illnesses, liver illness or a weakened immune system (as an illustration attributable to being prescribed steroids or handled for most cancers)
- All pregnant ladies
- Youngsters aged 2 to three years on 31 August 2023
- All main faculty kids and secondary faculty aged kids in years 7 to 11
- These dwelling in care houses
- Sure carers
- Frontline well being and social care employees
Find eligibility details on the NHS website.
Does the vaccine really assist?
Final winter, getting vaccinated towards flu minimize the danger of being hospitalised by round:
- 66 per cent in kids
- 25 per cent in adults aged 65 years and older
- 33 per cent in different adults with underlying well being situations
Can flu hurt kids?
Flu could be a very disagreeable sickness in kids, and for some, flu can result in hospitalisation, and even demise in uncommon instances.
Final winter, over 10,000 kids had been hospitalised attributable to flu, and lots of of those might have been prevented by getting the vaccine.
Youngsters are supplied the vaccine within the type of a fast and painless nasal spray vaccine, so it couldn’t be simpler.
Most kids get it by their faculty, so mother and father ought to be certain to signal and return the consent type. For pre-schoolers, mother and father can be invited to deliver their little one ahead within the coming weeks, or alternatively you possibly can contact your GP follow to make an appointment.
Does the vaccine shield kids towards flu?
In addition to serving to to present kids safety towards flu, the vaccine additionally helps cease them passing it to aged kin comparable to grandparents, who can be extra weak.
As a result of so many infections may be handed on at school, excessive vaccination uptake amongst kids can even assist forestall the unfold of an infection within the wider neighborhood.
After vaccination, some children might get delicate negative effects like a runny nostril, however the vaccine can’t really give them flu.
Ought to pregnant ladies have a flu vaccination?
All pregnant ladies are inspired to get vaccinated to guard themselves and their unborn infants. Being pregnant adjustments how your physique fights infections just like the flu and catching it whereas pregnant will increase your threat and your child’s threat of issues which can end in a keep in intensive care, and even demise.
The flu vaccine can be given safely to expectant mothers at any stage of pregnancy, even proper from the beginning. You may converse to your GP follow, pharmacist or midwife now about reserving a flu jab appointment.
What about these with underlying well being situations?
People with sure underlying well being situations are eligible for a free flu vaccine. Situations that might make somebody eligible embody these with:
- Coronary heart or liver illness
- Power respiratory illness
- Diabetes
- Immunosuppression (weakened immune system)
- Some neurological situations (like Parkinson’s, motor neurone illness, a number of sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy)
A full list of who is eligible is obtainable on the NHS web site.
When can I e book?
The Nationwide Reserving system for flu vaccine will go reside in a few weeks however some GP practices are already inviting folks to attend. The vaccines are delivered within the autumn to supply safety earlier than an infection charges rise. Most eligible adults can get their flu vaccine at their GP follow or a neighborhood pharmacy now.
Even in the event you had been vaccinated final yr, you will need to get your jab once more this flu season as a result of the viruses can change yr to yr and safety decreases over time.
The perfect defence is to get your vaccine earlier than the virus begins circulating. If you happen to’re eligible, please reap the benefits of this preventative measure to maintain your self effectively and winter sturdy.
