Flu can lead to serious complications and hospitalisation, particularly for those in high-risk groups. Protect yourself and those around you with a flu vaccine.
Why should you get a flu vaccine?
Getting flu vaccinated not only protects you, but also those around you.
If you are in one of the at-risk groups, flu is more likely to put you in hospital or can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications.
How does the flu vaccine work?
The flu vaccine triggers your body to make antibodies that help protect you against the influenza virus. This can take about 10 to 14 days. After this, if you are exposed to the same virus, your body can recognise and fight it.
You need a vaccination every year because influenza viruses are constantly changing, and vaccination only protects you against the strains of flu virus expected for the coming winter.
We are socialising more now than we have in the last couple of years and so there are increased opportunities for flu to spread.
Are there side effects?
You might get some side effects after your flu vaccination, but these are usually mild and should only last a couple of days.
Some of the most common side effects might include, but not limited to:
· Sore arm where the needle went in
· Muscle aches
· Slight raise of temperature
What flu vaccines are we offering?
Following the advice from the JCVI in the UK we are offering the following influenza vaccines this year
· Adults 65 years and over
- Adjuvanted quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (aQIV)
The available evidence indicates additional benefit from the use of aQIV or QIV-HD in those aged 65 years and over, compared with standard dose egg-culture inactivated trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines (TIVe/QIVe).
· Adults (including pregnant women) aged less than 65
- Quadrivalent influenza cell-culture vaccine (QIVc) This vaccine is egg-free and suitable for people with egg allergy.
· Children aged two to less than 18 years of age
- Quadrivalent influenza cell-culture vaccine (QIVc) – injection only.
We are not offering flu vaccines to babies under the age of two
