Scared of catching flu and Covid but facing a winter wait for my jab

Q

I heard earlier this summer that flu jabs were going to be offered to everyone over 50 as it could be dangerous to get the flu and a Covid infection at the same time.

I’m 60 but when I rang this week to ask about the vaccine I was told I couldn’t have it yet and would have to wait until at least November.

My neighbour, who is much younger, has just had his jab. What’s going on?

A

Why can’t I have mine now? Unlike other vaccines, the flu vaccine changes on an annual basis according to the strain of the virus that is likely to be circulating that year. This means there are limited supplies.

Up until this year, GPs were responsible for giving free flu vaccines to those aged over 65, to young children and also to those with long- term health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or severe asthma.

We work out how many vaccines we are likely to need and place the order in April for deliveries of small batches starting in mid- September and going through to November. This means we have enough storage space in the surgery’s vaccine fridge.

When the announcement was made that everyone over 50 was to be offered a flu vaccine, like all GPs I assumed the Government had secured extra vaccines and these would be supplied to us, but as yet it is not clear if or when these extra vaccines are going to arrive.

So, for now, we have been told to prioritise giving the vaccines we have to the over 65s and those with health conditions that put them more at risk of serious illness from flu, which may apply to your neighbour.

It seems that those in the 50 to 64- year- old age group will only be given a vaccine if there is enough left over and we won’t know this until mid- November at the earliest. If your surgery does have a vaccine for you, I am sure they will be in touch then.

And yes, like all GPs I’m as cross about this as my patients!

Q

I was recently in a queue at my local pharmacy and spotted a poster about having a dry mouth in bed. I was called forward before I read it properly but wonder if there is anything to worry about, as for months now I have woken during the night with a very dry mouth and nose.

I thought nothing of it and just kept sweets by the bed to suck assuming it was because I had slept with my mouth open. I am 81 years old. Should I be concerned?

A

A dry mouth is not an illness and usually is nothing to be worried about. It is more of a nuisance.

The most common reason for waking with a dry mouth at night is sleeping with your mouth open, which allows saliva to evaporate.

This is more likely to happen if you have a blocked nose, perhaps from a cold or hayfever, or if you are dehydrated, say after exercising or if you have been drinking alcohol and you haven’t drunk enough fluids. In some people, it can happen for no obvious reason.

Less commonly, it could be down to the fact you are not producing enough saliva, which can be a sign of Sjogren’s syndrome. This is an auto- immune disorder where the body’s own immune system attacks the cells that produce saliva and often the tear ducts as well, leading to dry eyes.

However, in your age group the most common reason a dry mouth occurs is as a side effect of medication. Common culprits are diuretics – or water tablets – such as furosemide or bendroflumethiazide, which are used to treat heart problems, and amitriptyline, which is taken for chronic pain.

Some antihistamines, which are used to treat allergies, and some muscle relaxants for bladder problems can also be to blame.

If you are taking several different medicines, I suggest you talk to your doctor and see if it is possible to change to a different one or reduce your dose.

Though sucking sweets can help, unless they are sugar free these can increase your risk of tooth decay.

A better option would be to keep a glass of water by your bed or chew sugar- free gum, which can help promote saliva production.

Q

I’m 62, and have noticed that in the last few years my hair has become much thinner than it used to be. Why is this and is there anything I can do about it?

A

Hair growth is stimulated by oestrogen and unfortunately this means that in the years after the menopause, when oestrogen levels are very low, hair does naturally, gradually become thinner.

To make matters worse, the adrenal glands continue to produce small amounts of testosterone and this becomes the e dominant hormone, which h can lead to slight thinning akin to male pattern baldness, around the forehead and on n the crown. It is also the reason older women get that annoying fuzz on their top lip too.

However, thinning hair can also be caused by an underactive thyroid gland and low levels of iron, so it is important to get these checked by your GP.

Hair also needs the right nutrients to grow well, so yours will benefit from a really healthy diet, with enough protein and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Finally, stress can have a marked effect too, so try not to get too anxious about the Covid situation and get plenty of rest.

● If you have a health question for Dr Leonard, email her in confidence at yourhealth@ express. co. uk. Dr Leonard regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence or reply to everyone.