Flu is a highly contagious respiratory infection. It spreads easily from person to person; at home, at school, at work, at the supermarket, on the train. It gets passed on when someone who already has flu coughs or sneezes and is transmitted through the air by droplets.(1)
(1)World Health Organization (WHO). Influenza. Fact Sheet No. 211. April 2009. Available at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en Accessed July 2009
Who is at greatest risk from winter flu?
The young and the old can be at greater risk, as well as those who suffer from diabetes, asthma and other chronic illnesses. If your family or friends fall into any of these groups, you can indirectly help to protect them from the flu virus by having your flu jab.
How does a flu vaccine work?
A flu vaccine will simulate the first wave of your body's natural defences and create antibodies that will help defend your body from the types of flu virus found in this year's winter flu jab.
Will a jab give me flu?
A flu vaccine contains inactivated, killed virus strains so it can't give you the flu(1)
(1) Questions & Answers: Flu Vaccine. Available at www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/fluvaccine.htm Accessed July 2009
Will a winter flu jab provide protection against Swine Flu?
No, the virus strains in this year's winter flu jabs will not produce antibodies in your body that will protect you from the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. For the latest information on the H!N1 virus visit NHS Direct (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk).
How much will a flu jab cost?
If you fall into one of the NHS recommended "at risk" groups then you are eligible for a free flu jab at your local GP surgery. A flu jab administered by your local pharmacist will cost you in the region of £10-15. Use the flu clinic locator below to find one.
The report, compiled by leading public health expert at University College London, Sir Michael Marmot, claims there were an estimated 25,400 excess winter deaths last winter. And of these, around 5,500 are believed to have died because they lived in homes that were too cold.
Those affected are mostly the elderly, the report claims, but babies and children are at risk too. Living in a home that's too cold can, for instance, increase your risk of developing a respiratory problem such as asthma. Those who have coronary heart disease are also at an increased risk, especially if they are over the age of 75.
Thankfully our local pharmacy was a great help. We popped in one day and saw a leaflet on their asthma health check service. After filling in a few questions in the leaflet about Jack's asthma we then had a chat with the pharmacist in a private room.
We had a chat about what medication Jack was taking and how we managed his asthma and I mentioned how he struggled to use his inhaler properly. The pharmacist suggested we tried using a long plastic tube which Jack puffs his inhaler into before taking deep breaths at the other end. The pharmacist also gave us an action plan for monitoring whether Jack is
using his medication properly in the future.
Thanks to the pharmacy's asthma health check service and the time the pharmacist took to talk to us, Jack can now enjoy playing football with his friends at school. I keep telling him that with his inhaler he breathes like Beckham, and might also play for England someday too!
People are concerned that they don't have the choice of whether or not to take the swine flu jab on its own. This follows cases of suspected adverse reactions to the jab last winter. The symptoms reported have included pain or swelling, vomiting and headaches and fever in small children.
Unfortunately, it's possible to experience all of these symptoms from the flu jab anyway, whether or not it includes the swine flu vaccine. Whilst the vast majority of people won't experience an adverse reaction, there's always been a small risk that it can occur.
However, the fact is that flu kills around 8000 people in the UK every year. If you suffer from diabetes, asthma, a long-term illness or if you're over 65 then you're at increased risk of flu developing into something more serious. Pregnant mothers are also being offered the flu jab for the first time this year to protect their unborn child.
Getting the flu jab is the best way of protecting yourself against the risk of catching flu, in all its forms, this winter.
Useful links
Who is at greatest risk from winter flu?
The young and the old can be at greater risk, as well as those who suffer from diabetes, asthma and other chronic illnesses. If your family or friends fall into any of these groups, you can indirectly help to protect them from the flu virus by having your flu jab.
How does a flu vaccine work?
A flu vaccine will simulate the first wave of your body's natural defences and create antibodies that will help defend your body from the types of flu virus found in this year's winter flu jab.
Will a jab give me flu?
A flu vaccine contains inactivated, killed virus strains so it can't give you the flu(1)
(1) Questions & Answers: Flu Vaccine. Available at www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/fluvaccine.htm Accessed July 2009
Will a winter flu jab provide protection against Swine Flu?
No, the virus strains in this year's winter flu jabs will not produce antibodies in your body that will protect you from the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. For the latest information on the H!N1 virus visit NHS Direct (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk).
How much will a flu jab cost?
If you fall into one of the NHS recommended "at risk" groups then you are eligible for a free flu jab at your local GP surgery. A flu jab administered by your local pharmacist will cost you in the region of £10-15. Use the flu clinic locator below to find one.
The report, compiled by leading public health expert at University College London, Sir Michael Marmot, claims there were an estimated 25,400 excess winter deaths last winter. And of these, around 5,500 are believed to have died because they lived in homes that were too cold.
Those affected are mostly the elderly, the report claims, but babies and children are at risk too. Living in a home that's too cold can, for instance, increase your risk of developing a respiratory problem such as asthma. Those who have coronary heart disease are also at an increased risk, especially if they are over the age of 75.
- To keep your home at the right temperature during the cold weather, make sure your thermostat is set at no lower than 21ºC (70ºF).
Thankfully our local pharmacy was a great help. We popped in one day and saw a leaflet on their asthma health check service. After filling in a few questions in the leaflet about Jack's asthma we then had a chat with the pharmacist in a private room.
We had a chat about what medication Jack was taking and how we managed his asthma and I mentioned how he struggled to use his inhaler properly. The pharmacist suggested we tried using a long plastic tube which Jack puffs his inhaler into before taking deep breaths at the other end. The pharmacist also gave us an action plan for monitoring whether Jack is
using his medication properly in the future.
Thanks to the pharmacy's asthma health check service and the time the pharmacist took to talk to us, Jack can now enjoy playing football with his friends at school. I keep telling him that with his inhaler he breathes like Beckham, and might also play for England someday too!
People are concerned that they don't have the choice of whether or not to take the swine flu jab on its own. This follows cases of suspected adverse reactions to the jab last winter. The symptoms reported have included pain or swelling, vomiting and headaches and fever in small children.
Unfortunately, it's possible to experience all of these symptoms from the flu jab anyway, whether or not it includes the swine flu vaccine. Whilst the vast majority of people won't experience an adverse reaction, there's always been a small risk that it can occur.
However, the fact is that flu kills around 8000 people in the UK every year. If you suffer from diabetes, asthma, a long-term illness or if you're over 65 then you're at increased risk of flu developing into something more serious. Pregnant mothers are also being offered the flu jab for the first time this year to protect their unborn child.
Getting the flu jab is the best way of protecting yourself against the risk of catching flu, in all its forms, this winter.
Useful links
