Should I get the Flu Vaccination?
For most people, flu is unpleasant but not serious. You will usually recover within a week.
However, certain people are at greater risk of developing serious complications of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. These conditions may require hospital treatment.
The flu vaccine is offered free to people who are "at risk", to protect them from catching flu and developing serious complications.
At-risk groups:
It is recommended that you have a flu jab if you:
- Over 65's - those over 65 by 31 March 2014.
- Pregnant Women - at any stage of pregnancy.
- Those with a serious medical condition (chronic disease - please see below).
- Those living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility (not including prisons, young offender institutions or university halls of residence) .
- Carers of the elderly or disabled persons whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill.
- Frontline health or social care worker (see below)
- Parents of a child who is over six months old and has a long-term condition on the list below, speak to your GP about the flu vaccine. Your child's condition may get worse if they catch flu.
Pregnant women:
It is recommended that all pregnant women should have the flu vaccine, whatever stage of pregnancy they're in.
This is because there is good evidence that pregnant women have an increased risk of developing complications if they get flu, particularly from the H1N1 strain.
Studies have shown that the flu vaccine can be safely and effectively given during any trimester of pregnancy. The vaccine does not carry risks for either the mother or baby. In fact, studies have shown that mothers who have had the vaccine while pregnant pass some protection to their babies, which lasts for the first few months of their lives.
People with certain medical conditions (chronic diseases):
The flu vaccine is offered free to anyone who is over six months of age and has one of the following medical conditions:
If you live with someone who has a weakened immune system, you may also be able to have a flu vaccine. Speak to your GP about this.
Frontline health or social care workers:
Employers are responsible for ensuring that arrangements are in place for frontline healthcare staff to have the flu vaccine.
Outbreaks of flu can occur in health and social care settings, and staff, patients and residents are at risk of infection.
Frontline health and social care staff should protect themselves by having the flu vaccine to prevent the spread of flu to colleagues and other members of the community.
If you care for someone who is elderly or disabled, speak to your GP about getting vaccinated against seasonal flu. You should also ensure that the person you care for has the flu jab.
Children:
From September 1 2013, a new annual nasal spray flu vaccine will be offered to all children aged two and three years as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.
It will also be offered to children aged 2-18 with long-term health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and lung disease.
Children aged six months to 2 years with long-term health conditions aren't able to have the nasal spray and will get the injected flu vaccine instead.
Please note:
Patients who do not fall into these catagories or who have no other clinical reason for receiving the flu vaccination will not be given the vaccination. However, you can purchase the vaccination from your local chemist for a small fee who will also administer the vaccination.
Who should not have the flu vaccination?
You should not have the flu vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a flu vaccine or one of its ingredients. This happens very rarely.
If you have had a confirmed very serious (anaphylactic) reaction to egg, have an egg allergy with uncontrolled asthma or another type of allergy to egg, your GP may decide that you should be vaccinated with an egg-free vaccine. If no egg-free vaccine is available, your GP will identify a suitable vaccine with a low egg (ovalbumin) content.
Depending on the severity of your egg allergy, your GP may decide to refer you to a specialist for vaccination in hospital.
If you are ill with a fever, do not have your flu jab until you have recovered.