Flu Season 2023/ Book Your Appointment

 

BACK TO MAIN INDEX

 

Please contact the surgery if you feel you are eligible for a FLU vaccination.

Flu is a highly infectious illness that spreads rapidly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are carrying the virus.

Flu symptoms can hit suddenly and severely.  They usually include fever, chills, headaches and aching muscles.  You can often get a cough and sore throat.  Because flu is caused by a virus and not bacteria, antibiotics won't treat it.

Anyone can get flu, but it can be more serious for certain people.  Therefore the NHS offers free vaccinations to all those ‘At Risk’ patients, the eligibility criteria can be found below: -

  • Children aged 2 to 3
  • Those aged 6 months to under 50 years in clinical risk groups
  • Pregnant women
  • Those aged 65 years and over
  • Those in long-stay residential care homes
  • Carers
  • Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
  • Frontline health and social care staff employed by:
    • a registered residential care or nursing home
    • registered domiciliary care provider
    • a voluntary managed hospice provider

Vaccination is the best way of protecting yourself and those close to you against infection by preventing the spread of the virus.  

Further information on the flu virus and the benefits of receiving a vaccination are available on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/

 

Does Age Affect The Risk Of Flu?

Yes. If you are aged 65 years or over or you are at higher risk.

 

Who Is At Risk?

  • If you are aged 65 years or over or if you are on regular inhaled steroids
  • If you have a chronic respiratory disease (including asthma)
  • If you have chronic heart disease
  • If you have chronic renal disease
  • If you are diabetic
  • If you have a weak immune system
  • If you live in a long-stay residential or nursing home
  • If you have a chronic liver disease
  • If you are a carer

 

Do I Need To Be Protected Against Pneumococcal Infection?

Everybody aged 65 and over should now be immunised to help protect them against pneumococcal infection which can cause diseases such as pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and meningitis. Please phone the surgery during September to make an appointment if the above applies to you.