By Ann-Marie McShane, Public Health Nurse
You may or may not have had the flu jab before, but no matter who you are this is the time of year when you should think about getting it.
Flu (or Influenza) is not a minor illness by any stretch of the imagination. On average 8,000 people a year die because of flu. So it’s worth considering getting the jab for your peace of mind.
Here are seven further reasons why you should get the flu jab:
1. You really don’t want to get flu
Flu is no fun at all. It’s not just a cold – it can be horribly unpleasant. Getting the flu can mean developing the following symptoms.
- a fever – a temperature of 38C or above
- an aching body
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- a headache
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- feeling sick and being sick
It’s likely you will be in bed for days if you get the flu.
2. When you protect, yourself you protect others
Getting the flu vaccine serves a dual purpose – it protects you and it protects others in the community — especially those who are vulnerable from suffering flu complications.
Grandparents, pregnant mothers, new born babies, those with a weakened immune system, are all groups of people we can help protect by getting the flu jab.
By getting the vaccine you are directly helping others who are at risk of complications who haven’t or cannot get the jab themselves.
3. The kids flu jab is a nasal spray – no needles!
Flu can be very unpleasant for adults, let alone children. It can lead to complications, including bronchitis and pneumonia.
Fortunately there is very quick to administer spray available on the NHS for free for:
- children aged 2 to 3 years
- all primary school children (Reception to Year 11)
- children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions
The spray contains a live but weakened flu virus. For a few children this may not be appropriate so always check with your GP.
Visit the NHS website for more information about the children’s flu vaccine.
4. The flu jab is free for many
The flu jab is free for a whole range of people. Some places of employment have schemes which can cover some or all of the cost. Make sure to take advantage of such a scheme if available at your workplace.
Currently the vaccine is recommended and free of charge for if you:
- are 65 years old or over
- are pregnant
- have certain medical conditions
- are living in a long-stay residential care home or another long-stay care facility
- receive a carer’s allowance, or you’re the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill
5. You can get the flu jab even if you are not eligible for a free one
You can pay for the flu vaccine at your local supermarket or pharmacy where it’s provided on a private patient basis and can cost up to £20.
If you are keen not to spread the virus to others or want to make sure the flu doesn’t leave you in bed for a few days then it’s worth looking into. Talk with your pharmacist if you want to know more.
6. The flu strain changes every year
The strains of flu change from year to year and the antibodies (the protection) our bodies make from having the vaccine decrease over time.
In February each year, people at the World Health Organization look at which strains of flu are most likely to affect us for the following Winter. The injected flu vaccine is a killed vaccine so cannot cause flu itself.
7. You won’t get flu from the flu jab
Because the flu vaccination doesn’t contain any live viruses it can’t give you the flu.
When you get the flu jab you may get a slight temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards, but this is just your body mounting an immune response.
For children, the nasal spray vaccine cannot cause flu because the viruses in it have been weakened to prevent this from happening.
The idea that the flu jab gives you flu is a myth.