Don’t forget your seasonal flu jab

Mock flu jab given to carers at Link Centre. PIC L-R: Rhona Jones (nurse), Joyce Brown, Alan Higgins (Director of Public Health), Jean Adams, Shiley Graham.

NEVER underestimate flu — that’s the message from local health chiefs as the annual immunisation programme gets under way.

Local carers have teamed up with NHS Oldham to urge vulnerable patients to sign up for their free flu jab.

Carers themselves are one of the priority groups for the jab to protect themselves and those they look after, but they tend to put the health of their charges above their own.

The key message of this year’s national campaign is to remember that seasonal flu can be just as severe as swine flu.

Anyone over 65 or those with a chronic illness is more at risk of serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia if they catch seasonal flu.

Posters highlighting the importance of getting the jab will be displayed around the borough and leaflets will be sent to GP surgeries.

Nurse Rhona Jones has asthma and has the jab to protect her own health and the health of her patients.

She said: “It is important that carers do take looking after their own health seriously, particularly as we currently have swine flu around as well as seasonal flu.

“This is also why it is vital that health professionals who have contact with patients should have their jab so they can try to keep themselves and others as safe and healthy as possible.

“Flu can be a serious illness for anyone but can be especially serious for people as they get older and if they have long-term conditions such as asthma.”

Alan Higgins, director of public health for Oldham, said: “Common colds are frequently confused with flu, but flu can be potentially life-threatening, and will generally require weeks of recovery time.

“Those at greater risk of developing serious complications from flu should go to their GP surgery as soon as possible to protect themselves from the virus.

“The seasonal flu vaccine does not contain any live virus, so it cannot cause flu. Those who got a seasonal flu jab last year will need a new jab this winter, as the virus changes every year and the vaccine needs to match the latest version of the virus.”

Talk to your local GP, nurse or pharmacist to find out more or visit the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk/conditions/Flu-jab/Pages/Introduction.aspx.
Those at risk
Adults aged 65 or over are more at risk of developing serious complications from flu.

Adults under 65 and children are also more at risk of developing serious complications from flu if they have:

Serious heart or chest complaints including asthma

Serious kidney or liver disease

Diabetes

Lowered immunity due to disease or treatment

Have had a stroke/ transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

Their GP may also advise a flu jab if they have:

Multiple Sclerosis

Degenerative conditions of the central nervous system