Seasonal Influenza
Please note that this page applies ONLY to the annual seasonal
flu vaccination.
Don't underestimate flu!
Flu or just a sniffle?
If you see a £50 note on the floor but do not have the energy to pick it up then you may have
the flu.
If the £50 note ends up in your pocket then you're unlikely to have flu at the moment!
Influenza or 'flu' as it is usually called, is not just a bad cold. It is a serious viral disease that, whilst as
easily caught as the common cold, usually leads to more severe symptoms such as shivering, aching limbs, weak muscles,
high temperature, headache — as well as possibly a dry cough, sore throat and runny nose. You may not feel well for
many weeks.
In extreme cases, particularly if you are in one of the at risk groups listed below — it could even be fatal.
Can I relieve the symptoms?
The usual cold and flu medicines you might buy from your chemist can help relieve certain flu symptoms.
However, for certain people, the best thing to do is to help prevent the flu in the first place by having a flu
vaccination every year. Don't worry — you cannot catch flu from the vaccine.
Who needs to be vaccinated?
The Department of Health strongly recommends that all those aged 65 years or over, and younger
people in certain at risk groups, should be vaccinated each year. These groups are listed below.
Aged 65 on or before 31st March 2012
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As you get older you are more likely to suffer the complications of flu, like pneumonia, which
can be severe or even fatal. Ask about the pneumonia vaccine if you've never had one. |
Main Carer of an Elderly or Disabled Person
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Those living in long stay Residential Homes
| This does NOT include student halls of residence or prisons. |
Chronic Respiratory Disease
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For people with these conditions the flu virus causes coughing and breathing difficulties and
can progress to pneumonia, hospitalisation and even death:
- COPD
- Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Cystic fibrosis
- Bronchiectasis
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- Interstitial lung fibrosis
- Pneumoconiosis
- Broncho-pulmonary dysplasia
- Asthma requiring repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids ("brown" inhalers) or with
previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission
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Chronic Heart Disease
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For persons in this group, flu can not only put extra strain on the heart, it can lead to other
complications such as pneumonia:
- Congenital heart disease
- Hypertension with cardiac complications
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- Chronic heart failure
- Individuals requiring regular medication and/or follow-up for ischaemic heart disease.
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Diabetes
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People with diabetes are prone to complications of flu, which can upset blood glucose levels:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs
- Diet controlled diabetes.
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Chronic Liver Disease
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- Cirrhosis
- Biliary artesia
- Chronic hepatitis
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Chronic Kidney Disease
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People with kidney disease are also at increased risk from flu and its complications:
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Chronic renal failure
- Renal transplantation.
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Chronic Neurological Disease
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- Stroke
- Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- Multiple sclerosis and related conditions
- Hereditary and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system.
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Immunosupression
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People suffering from and/or being treated for serious illnesses such as cancer or HIV are
likely to have a weakened immune system (the body's natural defence mechanism against infection). They are
therefore highly susceptible to catching flu and being severely affected by it:
- Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment
- Patients undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression
- Asplenia or splenic disfunction
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- HIV infection
- Some individuals treated with systemic steroids for more than a month (see the DoH
web-site for full details).
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Health and social care workers
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Your employer should be providing you with the influenza vaccine |
Pregnant
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This does NOT include those who have previously received the H1N1 Swine Influenza Vaccine unless
they are in one of the above groups. |
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Domestic
Violence Women's Aid