Are you at risk from flu?

If you suffer from asthma, diabetes or any other serious medical condition, or if you are 65 or over, you could be at risk from flu.

Flu is an infection caused by a virus. For most people the flu is just a nasty experience, but for some people at risk because of their age or medical condition it can lead to more serious complications. You could be laid up for weeks, missing work or even a holiday you might have planned.

If you suffer from a chronic medical condition then you may be vulnerable to flu at this time of year, particularly:

• Serious heart or respiratory disease
• Diabetes
• Severe kidney or liver disease
• Certain neurological conditions
• Or if you have lowered immunity due to disease or treatment

Doctors recommend the vaccine for those people who suffer from a long term medical condition, and also for those who are aged 65 or over. If you, or anyone you know, fall into any of these categories, it’s important to have the free flu vaccination.

Anyone who is vulnerable is entitled to a free flu jab.

Even if you do not belong to this group, read on for important information on the flu virus, and tips on how to help others, and yourself, should you get flu.

What is flu?

Flu is an infection caused by influenza viruses. It is most common during the winter months. People often describe colds as flu, but the symptoms of flu come on very suddenly and are different from and much more severe than colds.

Flu symptoms are:

• A high fever
• A shivery feeling
• A headache
• Aching body
• Extreme tiredness

A dry cough, sore throat and stuffy nose are also common with flu. Flu usually lasts about a week, but you could feel in low spirits for several weeks longer.

How is flu spread?

Flu is highly infectious. It spreads very rapidly by coughs, sneezes and touching people who are already carrying the virus. Touching objects that have been coughed or sneezed on can also pass it on to other people. Hand washing is one of the single most important things you can do to help to reduce the spread of infections and is key to preventing ill health. Just wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water and you and your family are more likely to stay healthy.

Who needs the flu vaccination?

People of all ages with long-term illnesses

If you are in an ‘at risk’ group, you should contact your GP practice to arrange for a flu vaccination. The vaccination will help protect you from flu over the winter months, and can stop other, more serious conditions as a result.

It is important to protect yourself from flu if you suffer from any of the long-term illnesses detailed below:

• Chronic lung disease including asthma needing regular inhaled or oral steroids
• Serious heart conditions
• Severe kidney or liver disease
• Diabetes, including patients who control their diabetes with diet alone. This is in addition to patients with diabetes who require insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs
• Lowered immunity due to disease or treatment e.g. chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for cancer or long-term steroid use
• Problems with the spleen, either because the spleen has been removed (asplenia) or doesn’t work properly, e.g. sickle cell disease
• Individuals with the following neurological conditions: cerbrovascular disease (principally stroke and transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs); Multiple Sclerosis and related conditions; and hereditary and degenerative disease of the central nervous system
• Any other serious medical condition

If you are not sure about your health or need further advice, please speak to your doctor, practice nurse or pharmacist

If you live in a residential care home, talk to your nurse or the manager.

People caring for older or disabled people

If you are the main carer for older or disabled people then you should ensure that they are vaccinated (if recommended) and also seek advice from your GP as to whether you should be vaccinated so that you can continue to look after them.

The vaccination will help protect you against flu over the winter months. It can also prevent you getting more serious illnesses.

Why shouldn’t everyone have a flu vaccination?

If you are under 65 and in good general health, flu is not a serious risk to you, and you do not require a flu vaccination.

Is there anyone who should not be vaccinated?

Flu vaccine should not be given to those who have had an anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of flu vaccine or any component of the vaccine (including neomycin, kanamycin and gentamicin – antibiotics which may be present in tiny [trace] amounts).

Flu vaccines are prepared in hens eggs so they should not be given to anyone with a known serious anaphylactic hypersensitivity to eggs products. If in doubt, ask your doctor.

If a person is ill with a fever, the immunisation should be delayed until they have recovered.

Can I have the vaccine if I am pregnant?

Yes. You should preferably receive a thiomersal (mercury)-free influenza vaccine. If a thiomersal-free vaccine is not available then a thiomersal-containing vaccine should be given.

For more information on thiomersal, see the thiomersal factsheet at www.immunisation.nhs.uk

How do I get an appointment for a vaccination if I need one?

If you think you need a flu vaccination, check with your doctor or practice nurse – or if a nurse visits you regularly, you can ask them.

Alternatively, ask your local pharmacist. Most doctors organise special vaccination sessions in the autumn. Some patients may have been contacted already by their GP practice regarding the arrangements it has in place.

In other cases, practices may not yet have notified patients directly. To allow these practices adequate time to do this, please wait until the end of October before contacting your practice to find out about the local arrangements for flu vaccination.

What is the flu vaccine?

Flu vaccine is made from part of the outer coat of three different strains of flu virus. The viruses are grown in hens eggs, then killed and purified before being made into vaccine.

Flu vaccine is pretty effective. Most people who have been vaccinated will not get flu, but if you do get flu, it is likely to be milder than if you had not been vaccinated.

If you get flu?

Flu is a virus, so antibiotics won’t help. Take painkillers like paracetamol or aspirin to relieve headache and muscle pains, and to reduce your temperature.

Remember: read all labels, and do not take more than the recommended dose of any medicine, e.g. paracetamol is in a number of different flu remedies, as well as standard paracetamol tablets. Speak to your pharmacist if you intend to take more than one form of medication to relieve your flu.

Do not give aspirin to children under 16 years of age unless instructed to do so by a doctor.

If you live alone, tell a friend or neighbour you are ill, so they can check on you, and help with essential shopping.

The best way to help yourself is to:

• Stay home, keep warm and rest – this will help you recover more quickly in the long run
• Drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids to replace the fluid lost in sweating
• Eat what you can
• Try to avoid mixing with other people until you have recovered
• Remember that other people may be more vulnerable to flu infection than you are

Should I contact my doctor?

There is usually no need to contact your doctor. Your pharmacist will provide advice and recommend appropriate treatment.

If, however, you have one of the conditions listed earlier on this web page, you are at greater risk from flu, and should consult your doctor if concerned.

All flu sufferers should consult their doctor if:

• Your temperature doesn’t settle after four or five days
• Your symptoms get worse
• You start to cough up dirty spit
• You think you are seriously ill
• You develop chest pain, or become short of breath
• You could discuss your symptoms with your GP by phone, rather than making an appointment.

What about helping others?

If you know there is flu around, look out for signs that a neighbour may be ill:

• They may not be going about their normal activities
• Mail, milk or newspapers may not have been taken into the house for a day or two
• Curtains, normally opened, may be left closed during the daytime
• Offer to make drinks or do the shopping if they live alone or you think they may struggle to cope.

The vaccination – a few myths exploded

Flu vaccination side effects are very rare. You may feel a small soreness in the area where the vaccine is injected. Other side effects some people experience include a slight temperature and muscle aches a couple of days after administration of the vaccine.

The vast majority of people, however, experience no side effects at all. Some people believe that the flu vaccine itself can cause flu. This is not true. As the vaccine contains no live virus, it cannot cause flu.

More information

For information about health issues and local health services, call the NHS helpline free on 0800 22 44 88 between 8am and 10pm seven days a week or go to www.nhs24.com for health information online.

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Ben won't be in today, he's got a touch of flu (pdf 248kb)

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