THIS year’s flu vaccination is now available in GP practices and pharmacies.
Flu can be serious and vaccination is the best way to protect against catching or spreading it.
It is caused by a virus that affects the lungs and airways. Symptoms can come on suddenly and can include fever, chills, headache, cough, body aches and fatigue.
You are eligible for a free flu vaccination if you:
- have a long term health condition such as asthma or are immune-suppressed due to illness or treatments
- are aged over 65
- pregnant
- a child aged 2 to 10 years old (in primary school)
- are an unpaid carer of someone whose health or welfare would be at risk if you caught flu
You can have your flu vaccine in your GP surgery or pop along to your local community pharmacy.
All children aged two to 10 years old (age on 31 August 2019) will be offered a nasal spray flu vaccine which is a fine mist squirted up the nose. The nasal spray has a very good safety record and millions of doses have been given in the UK. This is available at your GP practice.
Children in primary school (from reception class upwards) will be offered their nasal spray flu vaccination at school so parents and guardians should keep an eye out for consent forms over the next few weeks, sign and return them at the earliest opportunity.
Ros Jervis, Director of Public Health for Hywel Dda University Health Board, reiterated it is vital that those most at risk take advantage of the free vaccine: “Flu can be a life-threatening illness for people who are at risk due to their age, an underlying health problem such as asthma, or because they are pregnant. Sadly, the flu kills people in Wales every year.
“We are calling on each and every person in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire to be a superprotector in the fight against flu by getting vaccinated which will make our community a safer place to live this winter.”
Carers, volunteers providing planned emergency first aid, Community First Responders and people working in care homes that have regular client contact are also entitled to the vaccine.
It’s also recommended that frontline health and social care workers have the free vaccine to protect themselves and those they care for.
Hywel Dda UHB’s Occupational Health department will be delivering flu vaccination clinics for health staff over the next few weeks and for the first time will be participating in the UNICEF initiative to ‘Get a jab, give a jab’, which encourages staff to take up the option of the free flu vaccine and, in turn, help donate towards inoculating people in developing countries.
Be a #Superprotector today and get your flu vaccination. To find out more about the flu vaccination please visit www.beatflu.org.
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