Flu jab boost for asthmatics

Dear Editor, As we move into‘flu season’ it’s time for people with asthma to protect themselves against the flu virus.

New analysis by Asthma UK reveals that around 1 million Brits with asthma are at risk because they’re not planning to get the flu vaccine – even though 8 in 10 people with asthma say flu is a top trigger for lifethreatening asthma attacks.

That’s why Asthma UK is urging people with asthma to get the flu vaccine as soon as possible to reduce their risk of catching the virus and prevent a life-threatening asthma attack.

The flu virus can increase the inflammation in the airways so they can become narrow, leaving people coughing, wheezing and gasping for breath.

Every asthma attack is potentially life-threatening with around three people dying from one in the UK every day.

Unfortunately, there are lots of myths about the flu jab not working, causing side effects or causing flu, and our research shows this is preventing people from getting it.

But the vaccine can’t give you flu, the potential side effects are minimal and it could save people’s lives.

The flu vaccine is available free of charge to anyone with asthma who has been using preventer medicine, has needed a course of oral or systemic steroids, and has had a previous asthma-related hospital admission.

It can take up to two weeks for the vaccine to be fully effective, so we are urging people to get it as soon as possible so they’re protected during the‘peak flu’season in December and January.

Dr Andy Whittamore, Clinical Lead Asthma UK