Having a flu vaccine every year is one of the best ways to protect against flu.
Flu is a serious respiratory illness affecting your lungs and airways. It can lead to serious conditions like bronchitis and pneumonia, which can require hospital treatment. Flu is spread by coughs and sneezes. Symptoms of flu can be mild, however, it is very infectious, and symptoms can come on very quickly. Symptoms of flu include a high temperature, tiredness and weakness, headache, aches and pains and a cough.
Flu can result in serious health consequences for many vulnerable people. There are outbreaks every winter and the flu virus is constantly changing. Each year, flu vaccines are changed to match the flu viruses circulating. Thousands of people will die from flu-related illnesses in the UK around winter. Having a flu vaccine every year is one of the best ways to protect against flu.
When people get flu they tend to become ill quite quickly. Symptoms can include fever, chills, a headache and aching muscles, often with a cough and sore throat.
Flu is usually managed by resting at home, keeping warm and drinking plenty of water. You can take paracetamol (follow the advice in the packet and do not take more than the recommended dose), to lower a high temperature and relieve aches if necessary.
However, if you are in a high-risk group you should speak to your GP surgery or The Pharmacy promptly if you think you might have flu, as they may recommend a course of antiviral medicines.
CATCH IT
Use a tissue when you sneeze or cough
BIN IT
Put the tissue in the bin as soon as possible
KILL IT
By washing your hands or using hand sanitiser.
When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they spread the flu virus in tiny droplets of saliva over a wide area. These droplets can then be breathed in by other people or they can be picked up by touching surfaces where the droplets have landed.
You can prevent the spread of the virus by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and you can wash your hands frequently or use hand gels to reduce the risk of picking up the virus.
But the best way to avoid catching and spreading flu is by getting the vaccination before the flu season starts.
The best way to protect against the flu is to get the annual flu vaccine. The vaccine can prevent you from getting the flu and can reduce the severity of symptoms if you do get the flu.
This winter we may see COVID-19 and flu circulating at the same time, so it’s especially important to get protected.
Flu vaccines are quick and very safe. They can prevent weeks of serious illness, and protect you, your family and the wider community. It is important those eligible take up their offer of their flu vaccination to:
Around half of people infected with flu don’t even realise it, and they can still spread it to others, sometimes with devastating effects.
Flu vaccination is one of the best ways to protect against catching and spreading flu. Protection starts around two weeks after having the vaccine.
Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective. You might still get flu, but your symptoms are likely to be milder. Flu vaccines do not protect against colds, other respiratory viruses, or other winter illnesses.
Flu vaccines usually become available towards the end of September each year. Ideally, you should have your flu vaccine before flu starts to circulate, which is usually not before mid-December. You can have it later, but having it before flu circulates is best. Protection starts around two weeks after you have had a flu vaccine.
If you are in a group that is at increased risk of becoming very ill if they catch flu, you should have a flu vaccination every year.
Eligibility for the 2023 to 2024 flu vaccination programme: This autumn and winter, the health board are offering the flu vaccine to:
The Welsh Health Circular (WHC/2022/031) issued on 8 December 2022, noted that further assessment was needed to determine whether to include otherwise healthy 50-64 year-olds in the programme for 2023-24. The Welsh Government has decided this group will not form part of the eligible cohort for 2023-24, with the programme reverting to the age eligibility which was applied before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, those in a clinical risk group aged between 50 and 64 years will be eligible for a flu vaccination as advised by the JCVI.
If you are an adult in a risk group, are pregnant, or are aged 65 or over, you can get your flu vaccine at The Pharmacy Coedpoeth, Wrexham. If you work in health or social care, ask your employer to speak to us about booking your company with us. We also supply Care home staff and domiciliary carers.
Organisations wishing to protect their employees against flu (unless they are at risk) will need to make arrangements for the vaccinations to be given by us at The Pharmacy Coedpoeth, Wrexham. These vaccinations are not available on the NHS and will have to be paid for, however, we do not charge a fee for coming out to your business.
It is best to have your flu vaccination in the autumn or early winter before flu rates increase. Remember that you need it every year, so don’t assume you are protected because you had one last year.
Check your eligibility for the free flu vaccine, book in for a private flu vaccine and to find more details, call us today on
01978 757367.