Flu is a very infectious virus that comes on very suddenly. The most common symptoms are fever, chills, headaches, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness. For most people, it’s not serious, and they get better within a week. But some people who get flu go on to have more serious conditions, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. In rare cases, people die from the complications of flu.
Each year the Department of Health makes a vaccine available to offer to people at risk of serious complications of flu. Most flu vaccines protect against three types of flu virus.
The 2014/2015 vaccine will be available in two forms:
- An injection for most adults and babies over the age of six months but under the age of two who have a medical condition as listed below
- A nasal spray for children who are aged two, three and four years old on 1 September 2014
Babies under six months old should not have the flu vaccine even if they have one of the medical conditions listed below. This is because it doesn’t work well in very young babies. That is why it is so important that pregnant women have the vaccination. They will pass on some immunity to their baby to protect them in the early months of their life.
You should have the flu vaccination if you:
- Are aged two, three or four years
- Are aged 65 years or over
- Are pregnant
- Have certain medical conditions (see below)
- Are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility
- Are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person
- Are a health or social care worker.
You should have the flu vaccination if you have:
- A heart problem
- A chest complaint or breathing problems, including bronchitis or emphysema
- Kidney disease
- Lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medicine or cancer treatment)
- Liver disease
- Had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- A brain condition, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy
- A problem with your spleen, for example, sickle cell disease, or if you have had your spleen removed
Epilepsy is a long-term condition but the Department of Health doesn’t believe that people with epilepsy are in a high risk group. This means that you are not automatically called to have a flu vaccine just because you have epilepsy. But, if your family doctor thinks you are at risk of becoming seriously ill if you get flu, they can offer you the flu vaccine.
People who don't qualify for the free flu vaccine can still get it privately from their GP, some pharmacies or some employers. In this case, you may have to pay for it.