Spread joy, not germs this festive season

germ-defence

Get your flu vaccine

With winter here, we are seeing more and more flu cases.

Flu, or influenza, is a contagious illness that can make you feel very unwell.

It can range from mild to severe and sometimes cause serious health problems.

The peak time for flu and other winter illnesses is in December and January, so it's important to take steps to protect yourself and others.

 

Why you should get the flu vaccine

The flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting the flu. It helps reduce your chances of catching the flu and spreading it to those around you, especially people who are more vulnerable, like the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with health issues.

How to prevent the spread of flu:

  • Get vaccinated: If you are eligible, getting the flu vaccine is the best way to stay protected.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water regularly, especially after coughing or sneezing and before eating.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue away properly.
  • Disinfect surfaces like door handles, keyboards, and phones often.
  • If you have flu symptoms, stay home to avoid spreading the virus to others.
 

What to do if you have flu

If you catch the flu, you might have symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills, and tiredness. Most people get better within a week or two without needing medical treatment.

  • Don’t go out until you feel better.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
  • Get plenty of rest and avoid contact with others.
  • Use paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat fever and aches.
  • Eat light, nutritious foods to keep up your energy.

Who can get the flu vaccine?

  • Pregnant women
  • Children aged 2 or 3 years as of 31 August 2024
  • Children in clinical risk groups aged 6 months to under 18 years

flu-vaccination-new

We can offer the nasal flu vaccine to children who are 2 or 3 years old as of 31 August 2024. We can also offer the vaccine to children aged 6 months to under 18 years with certain health conditions.

Primary school-aged children from Reception to Year 6 and secondary school-aged children from Year 7 to Year 11 will receive their vaccinations at school from the school nurse.

  • Individuals aged 65 years and over
  • Individuals aged 18 to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza Chapter 19)
  • Residents of long-stay residential care homes
  • Carers receiving carer’s allowance or those who are primary carers for an elderly or disabled person
  • Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
  • Frontline social care workers without an employer-led occupational health scheme
  • All frontline healthcare workers (clinical and non-clinical) with patient contact
 

How to book your vaccine

We have been notifying eligible patients since September to ensure no one misses out. If you believe you are eligible but haven’t been notified, please contact us to book your flu vaccine.

If you were notified and initially decided not to get the vaccine but have now changed your mind, please contact us to book your appointment.

 

When to seek help

There is no specific treatment for flu. The NHS website links below contain information about reducing the spread of infection and when to seek help:

Winter illness season, which peaks in December and January, is not over. Check if you’re eligible and book your flu vaccine as soon as you can. If you haven’t had your flu vaccine yet, please get in touch with us.

Published: Dec 13, 2024