This year, more people than usual are being affected by flu.
Flu is far more than just a bad cold. Symptoms can include a sudden high temperature, an aching body, a dry cough and sometimes diarrhoea, sickness or stomach ache. For people who are very young, pregnant or elderly, or have other health conditions, catching flu can increase the risk of developing serious lung and airway infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
Flu spreads from person to person very easily. In some cases it can lead to hospitalisation, and even death.
Annual vaccination offers good protection against the most harmful effects of the flu virus.
The NHS recommends free flu vaccination for several groups of people:
- pregnant women
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
- primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
- secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
- all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
- those aged 65 years and over
- those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
- those in long-stay residential care homes
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants
It’s not too late to arrange a vaccination and get protected today. Vaccination for adults in eligible groups is available at certain local pharmacies and through GPs for a limited time.
There are also vaccination community catch-up clinics for children who have missed the flu vaccine or any other routine immunisations.
The NHS website contains further information, but if you're unsure whether you're able to have a free vaccination you can speak to your GP practice or pharmacist.