‘Vaccination is best protection against flu,’ say experts

AN ANNUAL campaign to encourage people to protect themselves against flu is being launched this week.

The Beat Flu campaign, led by Public Health Wales, encourages those who need it most to get protection each year against influenza, a potentially dangerous disease.

Pregnant women, people with certain chronic long-term health conditions, and everyone aged 65 and over are eligible for the free vaccination.

Last year less than half (46.9%) of these people got themselves vaccinated.

Children aged between two and eight years old are also eligible as the vaccine programme for children is being extended again this year.

The vaccine for adults is a small injection, but for children it is a simple nasal spray.

Children aged between two and three years old can receive the nasal vaccine at their GP surgery while those in reception class and school years 1, 2, 3 and 4 can get it at school.

Public Health Minister Rebecca Evans AM, who launched the campaign on Monday at Penywaun primary school in Aberdare, reiterated it is vital that those most at risk take advantage of the free vaccine.

She said: “Influenza can be a lifethreatening illness for people who are at risk due to their age, an underlying health problem, or because they are pregnant. Sadly, influenza kills people in Wales every year.

“Influenza spreads very easily. Extending the programme to more children this year will help protect them from catching flu, and will also prevent them spreading it to others in the community who may be very vulnerable.

“Last year’s children’s vaccine was very effective and it’s good to know that so many young people were protected.

“People can be seriously ill with influenza, and a flu vaccination is the best way to protect against it, so make sure you get protected soon, for your own and other people’s sake.”

The influenza viruses that circulate and cause illness each winter change and therefore each year the flu vaccine is changed to try and match the circulating strains, in order to give best protection.

While most NHS flu vaccines are given in GP surgeries, vaccination is also available for adults in many community pharmacies across Wales.

Carers, volunteers providing planned emergency first aid and Community First Responders are also entitled to the vaccine.

It’s also recommended that frontline health and social care workers have the vaccine to protect themselves and those they care for.

They can talk to their occupational health department or employer about where and when they can get their vaccine.

Dr Richard Roberts, head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme at Public Health Wales, said: “Getting vaccinated against flu every year is the single best way to protect against catching or spreading what is a potentially debilitating illness. Influenza can be incredibly serious, even with treatment – but getting vaccinated offers the best protection, so make sure it is top of your to-do list this autumn.”

Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by a virus that affects the lungs and airways. Symptoms generally come on suddenly, and can include fever, chills, headache, cough, body aches and fatigue.

Find out more by visiting www. beatflu.org or www.curwchffliw.org or finding Beat Flu or Curwch Ffliw on Twitter and Facebook.