16/10/2017 - Permalink

Don’t put off the flu vaccination – it’s free because you need it

Related topics: Adult social care / Health / Partner organisations

Health organisations across Shropshire are reminding those eligible for a free flu vaccination to take up their flu jab over the next few weeks.

Nurse promoting a flu jab

Flu jab campaign

The call out is part of the Stay Well This Winter campaign, a joint initiative from NHS England and Public Health England, to help the public ward off common winter illnesses and prevent from being admitted into hospital. Those eligible for a free flu vaccine include:

  • Older people aged 65 and over
  • Carers
  • Children aged 2 and 3 year olds
  • Children in reception class and school years 1 to 4 (ie born between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2013)
  • People with long term conditions
  • Pregnant women.

Dr Irfan Ghani, Shropshire Council’s public health consultant, said:

“Flu is a highly infectious disease and can lead to serious complications, particularly for those who are older or those who have a long-term health condition like COPD; bronchitis, emphysema; diabetes; heart, kidney or liver disease or have suffered a stroke. Flu on top of health conditions like these can easily develop into something very serious and could land you in hospital.

“Please help yourself stay well and take up your free flu vaccine through your GP or pharmacist. It’s free because you need it.”

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, adult social care and  housing, and chair of Shropshire’s Health and Well-Being Board, added:

“It is vital that those eligible have it every year, as the vaccine protects against different strains of flu which can change and/or evolve each year. The free flu vaccination is particularly important for those who are at increased risk from the effects of flu: these include people aged 65 and over, pregnant women and those with long term health conditions. I would sincerely urge everyone who is eligible to get their flu jab now.

Flu can also be horrible for little children, and if they get it, they can spread it around the whole family. Children who get the 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 can help protect your child from flu and also reduce the chance of flu spreading to others.”

If you have a child aged 2 or 3, get them vaccinated against flu with the free nasal spray flu vaccine from your GP. Schoolchildren from reception class through to year 4 will get their vaccinations through their school.

Pregnancy naturally weakens the body’s immune system and as flu can cause serious complications for you and your baby, pregnant women who get the flu may be less able to fight off infections, increasing the risk of becoming ill. The flu jab is the safest way to protect you and your baby against flu and you can have it at any stage of pregnancy, however fit and healthy you might feel.

If you are eligible for the flu vaccine get it now – it’s free because you need it. Contact your GP, pharmacist or midwife to the get the flu jab.

For more information on how to stay well this winter, visit https://www.nhs.uk/staywell/.

Further information

  • Last winter 1,531 people were hospitalised because of flu in a network of 22 trusts in England
  • 1,064 people were admitted to Intensive Care Unit/ a High Dependency Unit as a result of flu in 2016/17 across the UK during the flu season, of whom 133 died.
  • There was a 19% decrease in flu related deaths between 2015/16 and 2016/17
  • There are approximately 6.3 million people under the age of 65 with a long-term health condition
  • Approximately 8,000 deaths occur annually due to flu related complications. Of these deaths, it is estimated that around 2,500 are people with a heart disease and 3,500 people with a respiratory disease.
  • Chronic liver disease can affect the immune system and therefore people with this condition may be less able to fight off flu. Those with chronic liver disease are approximately 48 times more likely to die if they develop flu than individuals who have no other underlying health condition.
  • Chronic respiratory diseases make people more susceptible to the flu virus damaging their lungs. They are seven times more likely to die from flu than individuals without an underlying health condition.
  • People with chronic heart disease are approximately 11 times more likely to die if they catch flu than individuals who have no other underlying health condition. There were just approximately 7,500 more flu vaccinations amongst people with chronic heart disease in 2016/17 compared to 2015/16.
  • Chronic renal disease can affect the immune system and therefore people with this condition may be less able to fight off flu. Those with chronic renal disease are approximately 19 times more likely to die if they catch flu than individuals who have no other underlying health condition.

About flu

  • Flu is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract (nose, mouth, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs). It is a highly infectious illness which spreads rapidly in closed communities and even people with mild or no symptoms can infect others.
  • Flu is characterised by a fever, chills, headache, aching muscles and joint pain and fatigue. For most healthy people, flu symptoms can make you feel so exhausted and unwell that you have to stay in bed and rest until you get better.
  • Flu is caught through droplets of saliva that spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can then be breathed in by other people or they can be picked up by touching surfaces where the droplets have landed.