Flu Season
Please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment for the flu vaccination or nasal spray for children aged 2,3 and pre school 4 year olds.
Flu season is now upon us. If you are over 65 or have any of the below conditions you are eligible for a free flu vaccination. Children aged 2,3 and 4 will receive a nasal spray.
You are eligible for the flu vaccine this year (2017-18) if you will be aged 65 and over on March 31st 2018 – that is, you were born on or before March 31st 1953. So, if you are currently 64 but will be 65 on March 31 2018, you do qualify.
Pregnant women
Children and adults with an underlying health condition (such as long-term heart or respiratory disease)
Children and adults with weakened immune systems
Children aged 2,3 and 4 (in nursery and not in reception)
People who should have a flu jab
The injected flu vaccine is offered free of charge on the NHS to people who are at risk. This is to ensure they are protected against catching flu and developing serious complications.
You are eligible to receive a free flu jab if you:
- are 65 years of age or over
- are pregnant
- have certain medical conditions
- are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility
- receive a carer's allowance, or you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill
Front-line health and social care workers are also eligible to receive the flu vaccine. It is your employer's responsibility to arrange and pay for this vaccine.
65s and over and the flu jab
You are eligible for the flu vaccine this year (2017-18) if you are aged 65 and over on March 31 2018 – that is, you were born on or before March 31 1953. So, if you are currently 64 but will be 65 on March 31 2018, you do qualify.
Pregnant women and the flu jab
If you're pregnant, you're advised to have the injectable flu vaccine, regardless of the stage of pregnancy you've reached.
That's because there's strong evidence to suggest pregnant women have an increased risk of developing complications if they get flu.
If you're pregnant, you will benefit from the flu vaccine because:
- it reduces your chance of getting serious complications of flu, such as pneumonia, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy
- it reduces your risk of having a miscarriage, or your baby being born prematurely or with a low birth weight because of the flu
- it will help protect your baby as they will continue to have some immunity to flu for the first few months of their life
It's safe to have the flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy from conception onwards.