Stay Well This Winter: now’s the time to get your free flu jab

This week all those in ‘at risk’ groups are being reminded to get their free flu jab.

Flu is a highly contagious illness that spreads rapidly through the population. It can cause serious complications for at risk groups, such as the elderly, expectant mothers and people with long-term health conditions.

Those eligible for the free winter flu vaccination include:

• those aged 65 years and over
• those aged six months to under 65, in clinical risk groups
• pregnant women
• carers
• all children aged two, three and four-year-olds (on 31 August 2015)
• all children of school years 1 and 2 age:
  – Year 1 school age: 5 year olds, rising to 6 year olds (ie date of birth between 1 September 2009 and on or before 31 August 2010)
  – Year 2 school age: 6 year olds, rising to 7 years olds (ie date of birth between 1 September 2008 and on or before 31 August 2009)

Those unsure as to whether they are eligible can contact their local GP or pharmacist to find out if they are eligible for the free flu vaccination.

The reminder is being issued by Shropshire Council’s, and Telford and Wrekin Council’s, public health teams as part of this year’s Stay Well this Winter campaign launched last week (Thursday 15 October 2015) by Public Health England and NHS England, as a major drive to help people stay well this winter.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people see their GP and tens of thousands are hospitalised because of flu. Symptoms of flu can be very unpleasant and last for several weeks. It can lead to more serious complications like middle ear infections in children, and pneumonia or bronchitis for those with underlying health conditions, and in some cases it can be fatal.

This year more children are being vaccinated because they can very easily pick up germs and spread them amongst friends and family members. This vaccination programme helps protect the population.

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, and Chair of Shropshire’s Health and Well-Being Board, said:

“Flu is highly contagious and spreads rapidly, causing serious complications for those most at risk, such as the elderly, expectant mothers and people with long term health conditions. I would really urge those people who are eligible to take up their free vaccine with their GP or pharmacist. It’s free because you need it.”

Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s deputy leader, and Cabinet member for public health, said:

“If those who are eligible act now and take advantage of the opportunity to have a free flu vaccine, it can help them avoid health problems during the cold weather. There is obvious advantage for an individual’s health but also for society generally in terms of reducing pressure on health services at busy times.”

Dr Irfan Ghani, Shropshire Council’s public health consultant, added;

“Flu vaccination is still the best protection against an unpredictable virus which can cause severe illness and deaths amongst vulnerable groups. My advice for anyone eligible for the free flu vaccination is to get it now before flu starts to circulate in your community.

“Throughout the last decade, there has generally been a good match between the strains of flu in the vaccine and those that subsequently circulate, so it’s important that we do all we can to ensure vulnerable people are encouraged to have the flu vaccination now to protect themselves and their family.”

Vaccines are available now, until March 2016. As well as protecting against flu, the NHS Stay Well This Winter campaign will urge people over 65 or those with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease or respiratory illness, to prepare for winter with advice on how to ward off common illnesses.

The NHS “Stay Well This Winter” campaign urges the public to:

• Make sure you get your flu jab if eligible
• Keep yourself warm – heat your home to least 18 degrees C or (65F) if you can
• If you start to feel unwell, even if it’s just a cough or a cold, then get help from your pharmacist quickly before it gets more serious
• Make sure you get your prescription medicines before pharmacies close on Christmas Eve
• Always take your prescribed medicines as directed.
• Look out for other people who may need a bit of extra help over winter.

For more information about flu and how to Stay Well this Winter visit www.nhs.uk/staywell.

You can also hear Professor Rod Thomson, Shropshire Council’s director for public health, talking about flu on BBC Radio Shropshire’s Breakfast programme (1 hour 20 minutes 23 seconds in) at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p034166q#playt=1h20m23s

Further information

• NHS England is the body which leads the NHS in England. Its main aim is to improve the health outcomes for people in England, and it sets the overall direction and priorities for the NHS as a whole.

• Flu vaccinations are currently offered free of charge to the following ‘at-risk’ groups:

– those aged 65 years and over
– those aged six months to under 65 with a serious medical condition, such as:
a. chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis
b. chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
c. chronic kidney disease at stage three, four or 5
d. chronic liver disease
e. chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s disease or motor neurone disease
f. diabetes
g. splenic dysfunction
h. a weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment)
– pregnant women
– all two, three and four-year-olds (on 31 August 2015)
– all children of school years 1 and 2 age:
– Year 1 school age: 5 year olds, rising to 6 year olds (ie date of birth between 1 September 2009 and on or before 31 August 2010)
– Year 2 school age: 6 year olds, rising to 7 years olds (ie date of birth between 1 September 2008 and on or before 31 August 2009)
– primary school-aged children in areas that previously participated in primary school pilots in 2014/15
– those in long-stay residential care homes
– carers.

• 1Public Health England: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-health-england-and-the-nhs-prepare-for-unpredictable-flu-season