Prevention is better than cure so it’s time to have your flu vaccine
JOHN SARGEANT, chairman of Community Pharmacy Derbyshire, with some seasonal HEALTH advice
IT’S time for me to start thinking about vaccinating against ‘flu. As with most things, prevention is better than cure and I encourage everybody in an ‘at risk’ group to get their free NHS flu jab.
Vaccinations are vital to protect those for whom seasonal flu is a real danger, one which causes more than 8,000 deaths a year.
Last year, pharmacists gave 1.3 million flu vaccinations under the NHS Flu Vaccination Service.
Are you 65 years of age and over? You are particularly at risk of becoming very unwell from flu and a flu-related illness, as well as any existing conditions getting worse.
A little ‘technical’ information about the flu vaccine of choice for this vulnerable group – you should be given an adjuvanted trivalent flu vaccine, as there is strong clinical evidence this is the most effective.
Other groups (18 to under 65s ‘at risk’) will be given a quadrivalent vaccine (QIV).
Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to severe complications of flu (e.g. pneumonia, miscarriage, premature birth or low birth weight).
The vaccination can be given irrespective of the stage of pregnancy.
Also, there is evidence that vaccination during pregnancy provides passive immunity against flu to infants in the first few months of life.
Flu is contagious which, with people living in close proximity, such as in a care home, can lead to a rapid spread of infection.
If you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person who would be at risk if you became ill then you could be eligible for a free flu jab.
Do you have a serious longterm (chronic) health condition?
This includes chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease or a neurological condition, such as Parkinson’s or motor neurone disease; diabetes, spleen problems such as sickle cell, a weakened immune system through certain conditions or because of the medication you are taking (eg steroid tablets), or if you are seriously overweight with a BMI of 40 or more.
The jab is free for children over six months with a longterm health condition, children aged two or three on August 31 2018, children in reception class and school years one to five.
By getting vaccinated you will not only protect yourself, but also your colleagues and the people you support through your work.
For those not in one of the groups but still concerned about catching flu, then there is the option of having a private flu jab.
If you are unlucky enough to catch flu, you will experience symptoms quite quickly.
All pharmacists will be able to advise on flu remedies to ease your symptoms, but make sure you let them know about your regular medication, just in case there are any interactions or problems with taking flu remedies.
You will need to rest, sleep and keep warm. To keep your temperature down and to help with aches and pains take paracetamol or ibuprofen, and drink plenty of water.
Colds usually come on gradually and will mainly affect your nose and throat.
But you will be able to carry on with your normal daily activities – albeit a bit more slowly.