Press release
Give flu the cold shoulder
Bury doctors are urging patients to protect themselves against seasonal flu. Flu can still kill.
The flu jab is being offered to people in at-risk groups, who are at greater risk of developing serious complications from flu. The vaccines will be offered by GP Practices from October 2010.
Influenza or flu occurs every year, usually in the winter. It is a highly infectious respiratory illness caused by the flu virus. It spreads rapidly through the coughs and sneezes of infected people.
The seasonal flu jab is produced every year, to protect people against the flu virus which is most likely to be circulating in the coming winter. The vaccine does not contain any live virus, so it cannot cause flu. Immunisation in previous years has saved hundreds of lives in Bury. It gives good protection from flu that lasts for one year.
Seasonal flu is a different virus to swine flu, and therefore requires a separate vaccination.
Who is eligible to get the jab?
The seasonal flu jab is offered free of charge to anyone over the age of six months with the following medical conditions, as they are at higher risk of catching flu:
- Chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as severe asthma, COPD or bronchitis
- Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson's disease or motor neurone disease
- Diabetes
- A weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment)
It is also recommended that you have the flu jab if you:
- Are aged 65 or over
- Live in a residential or nursing home
- Are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill
- Are a healthcare or social care professional directly involved in patient care
- Work with poultry
Also, this winter (2010-11), the seasonal flu vaccine will be offered to pregnant women who are not in the high-risk groups listed above (pregnant women in high-risk groups listed above are already eligible), and who have not previously been vaccinated against H1N1 (swine) flu.
Dr. Peter Elton, Director of Public Health for NHS Bury said: “Flu can be a really nasty experience. Although most people recover from the virus within a week or two, it can cause complications such a bronchitis and pneumonia, and can be life threatening. Being immunised each year is the best way to protect yourself against infection with the flu virus.”
“Don’t wait until there is a flu outbreak to have your jab, if you are eligible, get in touch with your GP Practice and get protected without delay.”
ENDS
Date: 29 September 2010
FOR PRESS & MEDIA ENQUIRIES: contact Caroline Dearden, Corporate Communications Manager on 0161 762 3106 or email communications@bury.nhs.uk
Notes to Editor:
For information about the seasonal flu jab please visit http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Flu-jab/Pages/Introduction.aspx or contact your GP Practice.