FLU PROGRAMME 2009
IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD YOUR SEASONAL FLU VACCINATION AND YOU ARE OVER 65 OR IN AN 'AT RISK' GROUP PLEASE TELEPHONE YOUR LOCAL SURGERY.
SWINE FLU
WE ARE CURRENTLY CONTACTING PATIENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A SWINE FLU VACCINATION. IF YOU ARE NOT IN ONE OF THE AT RISK GROUPS PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST A VACCINATION. THE GROUPS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
- Individuals aged between six months and up to 65 years in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups
- Pregnant women
- Household contacts of immuno-compromised individuals
- People aged 65 years and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
Seasonal Flu is not so bad/I’ve had flu in the past and survived/I’m pretty fit for my age. Why do I need a flu vaccine?
Because flu is more than just a heavy cold. Though not usually serious in younger people, as you get older it can really knock you out.
I had flu vaccine before and I still got flu.
It probably wasn’t flu. There are many respiratory infections around every winter - flu is just one of them, but it is usually worse than others and there is a vaccine to prevent it. Unfortunately, the flu vaccine won’t prevent the other infections, but it will stop you getting flu. If you were unlucky enough to get flu in spite of your flu vaccination, it is likely to be milder and you are much less likely to get the severe complications of flu.
I had a flu vaccine before and it gave me Flu
Wrong – it can’t! There is no active virus in a flu vaccine so it can’t cause flu. You could have had one of the other viruses referred to above, or very occasionally you could have caught flu before the vaccine took effect. Vaccinations are given before the flu seasons usually starts but occasionally influenza appears earlier than expected.
What other reactions can flu vaccines cause?
In people who have a severe hypersensitivity to hens’ eggs, the vaccine may cause a reaction. Neurological symptoms – called the Guillain Barre Syndrome – have been reported very rarely after influenza immunisation. This is estimated to occur once for every one million doses given.
I can’t eat eggs. Should I have the vaccine?
Food intolerance alone is not a contra-indication to having the vaccine.
Will I have to pay for the vaccine?
No (if you are over 65 or in an ‘at risk’ group) – unless you choose to go to a private doctor or clinic.
I heard you can now treat flu.
One antiviral drug has been available for treating flu for a long time, others are either recently licensed or in development. They may shorten the symptoms of flu, but only by about a day on average. And for them to be effective, you have to start them very soon after your symptoms start. If you are in one of the at risk groups ‘prevention is better than cure!
DON'T FALL DOWN WITH FLU!!
