Long term health condition? – protect yourself from flu and stay well this winter
Shropshire and Telford health chiefs are urging those with underlying health conditions to stay well this winter by protecting themselves against flu.
The flu jab is free of charge for people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, or those who are immunosuppressed or suffer from chronic conditions such as lung, heart, kidney or neurological disease.
For most healthy people flu is unpleasant but will usually clear up on its own within a week or so. However, for those with underlying health conditions, flu can be more severe and cause serious complications such as pneumonia. The quick and simple flu vaccination will help reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalisation and even death amongst those most at risk..
Even if your condition is well managed and you feel fit and healthy, you should still take up your free vaccine, to help you remain well.
Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, and Chair of Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board, said:
“As we’re now in the middle of the flu season, there’s still many people out there who haven’t taken up their free flu vaccine. As Christmas is fast approaching it is really important that those with underlying health conditions make sure they stay well so they can enjoy the festive season with families and friends.
“Even if you feel fit and healthy now, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so I would like to encourage our residents to protect themselves and the people they love this year by booking their free flu jab as soon as possible.”
Every winter hundreds of thousands of people see their GP and tens of thousands are hospitalised because of flu, which can be highly preventable.
Dr Michael Innes, Chair of Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group, said:
“One in four of the population have a long-term health condition, like diabetes or heart problems. For people in these groups flu can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, so it’s really important if they have been offered their flu vaccination they make an appointment to have one. You mustn’t underestimate the effects of flu: for at risk groups, it can be really serious.”
Dr Julian Povey, Lead GP and Clinical Director at Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), added:
“Patients in the at risk groups can get a free flu jab at their GP surgery or at approved chemists in Shropshire, so it’s really easy for people to have the vaccine if they need it. At Shropshire CCG we are encouraging all patients with underlying health conditions to take advantage of this service so that they can stay healthy throughout the winter.”
If you are eligible you should have received a letter or phone call from your local GP surgery. If you have any queries, you should contact your GP directly.
For more information about flu and how to Stay Well this Winter visit www.nhs.uk/staywell.
Further information
Receiving the seasonal flu vaccine is still the best way to help protect against getting the virus. The vaccine does not give people the flu.
It is essential for people to receive the latest vaccine and to receive it well in advance of any outbreak. It takes approximately two weeks following vaccination to develop protection against flu.
Anyone who received the vaccine in spring this year still needs to get the vaccination for the 2015/16 flu season.
‘At risk’ people
The seasonal flu programme specifically targets ‘at risk’ groups because they are more likely to have severe illness and/ or develop complications if they get flu. Pneumonia is one potential complication, which can be a life-threatening risk because they have one of the following conditions:
- diabetes
- weakened immune system (eg HIV or cancer patients)
- heart disease
- chronic respiratory disease (eg severe asthma, COPD, bronchitis)
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- chronic neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s
- people in long stay residential homes
- people with a learning disability
- a body mass index greater than 40 kg/m².
