Flu Jab For Health And Social Care Workers
Outbreaks of flu can occur in health and social care settings, and, because flu is so contagious, staff, patients and residents are all at risk of infection.
If you are a front-line health and social care worker, you are eligible for an NHS flu jab to protect yourself, your colleagues and other members of the community.
It is your employers responsibility to arrange vaccination for you. So, if you are an NHS-employed front-line healthcare worker, the NHS will pay for your vaccination. If you are a social care worker, your employer for example, your local authority will pay for vaccination. In the case of health and social care workers employed by private companies those companies will arrange and pay for the vaccinations.
When To Worry Call Your Doctor
If your child is acting lethargic and looks terrible even when the fever is down, you should take your child to the doctor that day. If your child is vomiting and/or has severe neck pain , this could mean he has meningitis. You should see or page your doctor right away. See our longer discussion below on meningitis if your child has the vomiting and neck pain symptoms.
What Is A Cold
Although flu is a virus , it’s a very different illness from the average cold. For a start, although you get similar symptoms, they’re much more severe – there really is no such thing as ‘a touch of flu’! You’ll usually feel achy all over, including in muscles you didn’t know you had.
A fever above 39°C or even 40°C is standard, and you’ll almost certainly be too weak to get out of bed for several days. You’re likely to have a dry racking cough, headaches and fluctuating between boiling hot and freezing cold. At certain times of year, GPs are given the go-ahead to prescribe Tamiflu, which may shorten your symptoms by a couple of days, but it’s no miracle cure. You’ll probably feel weak for days or even weeks after you’re over the worst of it.
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How Long Is Recovery From A Cold
There are over 200 viruses that can cause colds, and it’s actually not uncommon to be infected with more than one at the same time. The ‘average’ time it takes to get over a cold is seven to 10 days – but if they overlap, it may be longer.
Symptoms include blocked or runny nose, sneezing, and mild fever , with a cough from the 4th or 5th day, as sneezing improves. Unlike influenza, you can usually struggle on with a cold. Coughs and sneezes really do spread diseases – use a paper hanky to cover your mouth and nose and bin it once used.
What To Do If You Have A Cold
Because colds and flu are caused by viruses, antibiotics will be completely useless. On the whole, I strongly advise my patients to steer clear of my surgery – I won’t be able to help and it’s full of other patients with germs they can catch! Sometimes, however, you can get a bacterial infection superimposed, or infection deeper in your airways.
If you get shortness of breath, coughing up blood or a sharp, stabbing pain in your chest when you breathe , see your doctor. If you have asthma, getting a cold can worsen your symptoms, so take the advice you’ve been given about upping your inhalers and be prepared to see your doctor. Likewise, if you have long-term health conditions like the lung condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , you’re more prone to bacterial infections, so speak with your doctor.
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Symptoms Of Summer Flu
You can start experiencing the summer flu symptoms suddenly, which may include –
The symptoms of summer flu are likely to be similar to other summer diseases. In extreme cases, the infection due to the influenza virus can lead to vomiting and diarrhoea. The summer flu symptoms are more common in children as compared to the older generation. Further, before we understand the treatment and preventive measures for summer flu, let us understand the causes for the same.
Where Can I Get The Flu Vaccine
You can get your flu vaccine at your local Knights Pharmacy branch if there is no Knights Pharmacy branch near you, you can find the nearest pharmacy offering NHS vaccines here.
Find your nearest pharmacy below!
Why wait to protect yourself? Book in for your flu vaccine in Redditch and Bishop Auckland today!
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Does My Child Have Meningitis
How to tell if your child may have meningitis.
- If your child has all five symptoms, dont even call or page your doctor. GO STRAIGHT TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM.
- The key to meningitis is the neck pain and stiffness. So if your child has severe neck pain and stiffness, and one or more of the other four symptoms, call your doctor to be seen right away, or page the doctor after hours. On the other hand, if your child does NOT have neck pain or stiffness, and DOES have the other symptoms, then it is less likely to be meningitis.
- In fact, the first three symptoms above, without neck pain or stiffness, is probably the flu virus described first in this article.
When Is Flu Season
Flu season is when influenza activity is highest. The incidence of influenza infection typically begins to increase in October and peaks in the winter months of December, January, or February.
Its believed that the seasonal nature of influenza may be due to the colder, drier climate thats present during the winter months. During this time, the virus may be more stable. A study in a guinea pig model supports this idea, finding that influenza viruses are transmitted more effectively between animals at a low humidity and low temperature.
Another factor that may contribute to influenza peaking in the winter could be the fact that people spend more time indoors. This makes them more likely to share an enclosed space with infected individuals. Additionally, lower levels of vitamin D due to less exposure to sunlight could possibly contribute to an increased susceptibility to infection.
When you have the flu, symptoms typically come on suddenly. They can include:
- sore throat
The symptoms of flu are also common symptoms of other illnesses. If youre experiencing flu-like symptoms during the warmer months of the year, they may be due to another illness or condition other than the flu.
Some possible illnesses that may give you flu-like symptoms in the summertime include:
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How To Treat A Summer Cold
There are no medications, like vaccines, to cure a common cold and most cases will get better without needing to see a doctor.
“Just like with a winter cold, the main treatment for a summer cold is just treating your symptoms, while your own body’s immune system fights off the cold,” Long says.
In the meantime, there are steps you can take to help you deal with your symptoms and heal more quickly:
- For symptoms like congestion, cough, or runny nose, you can take over-the-counter decongestant medications like DayQuil or Mucinex, Long says.
- To boost your immune system, Long suggests eating plenty offruits and vegetables, and her go-to recommendation for colds is to drink a smoothie.
- Going for a short walk outside can also help your immune system, Long says. Vitamin D from the sun can help bolster the immune system in people who are vitamin D deficient. Exercise can also strengthen the immune system. For example, Harvard Medical School reports that for one study, men and women who walked for just 20 minutes a day at least 5 days a week, had 43% fewer sick days than people who exercised once a week or less.
- Lastly, getting some rest is an important way to help your body cope with a summer cold. “It’s amazing what a solid night’s sleep can do to boost your immune system and kick that cold to the curb,” Long says.
Or Is It Something Else
Although a random flu strain could be to blame for your misery, its much more likely that your flu-like symptoms are the result of another kind of virus. Some common viruses that circulate in the summer are:
- Enterovirus: Rhinovirus is more rampant in the winter months but its common cold counterpart, enterovirus, loves the hot weathermeaning youre more likely to catch it on a beach vacation than on Christmas break.
- Parainfluenza: Even though this sounds like traditional influenza, its generally a milder respiratory illness that likes tospread from spring through fall. Sometimes it leads to secondary illnesses like croup and pneumonia.
- Coronavirus: What would a list of summertime illnesses be without the dreaded coronavirus? But, to be clear: There are manydifferent kinds of coronaviruses, and prior to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, it was totally normal to catch one and experience typical cold symptoms. This year, everyone is worried about COVID-19, so if you have been exposed to someone and/or have symptoms, .
- Adenovirus: If youre hacking away with a chest cold in the summer, it might be adenovirus. It increases its spread in the spring and winter and causes a myriad of common cold symptoms, especially ones that irritate your airways.
- Insect-borne illnesses:Lyme disease andWest Nile virus are two common illnesses carried by insects. Since you usually spend more time outside during the summer hanging around ticks and mosquitos, your exposure risk increases.
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Is Flu Type B Really Worse For Kids
You may have seen some news reports suggesting that flu B is more severe in children than other strains. But in children, a case of any strain of flu can cause serious illness, so parents shouldnt be any more worried about flu B than the other strains, says Lynnette Brammer, M.P.H., an epidemiologist with the CDCs influenza division.
As often happens late in flu season, influenza B has become the dominant circulating strain: By mid-March, more doctors and clinics were seeing patients who tested positive for flu B than for flu A, according to the CDC.
In one way, thats good news, Brammer says, because it means there are fewer cases of H3N2 , which dominated for most of the season and is known to cause more severe illness, more hospitalizations, and more deaths from flu than other strainsespecially in older adults.
But research on the relative severity of different flu strains is mixed, which has led to some confusion. One recent study , published in the journal Pediatrics, found that children hospitalized from flu B were slightly more likely to die than those hospitalized with flu A.
Still, that studys author, Dat Tran, M.D., public health physician for the Oregon Health Authority, says that the results of his study dont mean that a flu B infection is always worse in children. It does vary from year to year, he says, based partially on how severe the predominant strain of flu A was.
Tips To Prevent The Flu
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot every year. It takes about two weeks for immunity to develop. The CDC also indicates you can get a flu and COVID-19 vaccination at the same time, including a booster dose. The COVID-19 vaccine does not work against influenza and vice versa.
The influenza vaccine is available at doctors offices and retail pharmacies and is covered by medical insurance. People with no health care coverage can get vaccinated at one of the Countys six public health centers or a local community clinic. To find the nearest location, visit the Countys Flu Vaccine Locations page or call 2-1-1 San Diego.
In addition to getting vaccinated, people should also do the following to avoid getting sick:
- Wash hands thoroughly and often
- Use hand sanitizers, if unable to wash hands
- Stay away from sick people
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Clean commonly touched surfaces and
- If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others.
During the 2020-2021 flu season, a total of 848 influenza cases were reported in San Diego, including two deaths. During the 2019-2020 flu season, more than 20,700 flu cases were reported and 108 San Diegans died from influenza.
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How To Treat Summer Flu
Here are a few home care techniques that may help alleviate flu-like symptoms. If symptoms persist or worsen after a few days , visit your nearest urgent care center for medical attention:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Over-the-counter cough suppressants and decongestants
- Drink plenty of clear fluids to stay hydrated
- Try warm liquids like tea or broth to soothe a sore throat
- Use a humidifier to add moisture into the air, which will loosen congestion and make it easier to breathe
- Inhale warm steam to help loosen mucus and ease inflammation in the sinuses and throat
- Avoid spicy, fatty or oily foods that may upset the stomach
These Tips Can Help You Prevent Summer Flu:
Cold weather is not a prerequisite for catching a cold. Itâs enough if your immune system is weakened. Then germs have an advantage.
- Drink plenty of fluids to keep your mucous membranes moist.
- Ventilate rooms regularly. Make sure you get plenty of fresh air.
- Avoid air conditioning and draughts.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap.
- Avoid large crowds.
- Get enough sleep and eat a healthy diet.
- Do not wear wet or perspired clothing for too long.
- Do not expose yourself to direct sunlight. Long sunbaths make you more susceptible to viral infections. They can weaken your immune system.
- Avoid ice-cold drinks. They are refreshing but can cool down the bodyâs mucous membranes too much, impairing the bodyâs ability to defend itself against viruses.
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The Most Common Summer Cold
Most often, summer colds are caused by an illness known as enterovirus. Enterovirus tends to pop up in summer because the virus thrives in warm weather.
Enterovirus is contagious and can travel in the mucus, saliva, or stool of a sick person. If you have direct contact with an infected person or touch a contaminated surface like a doorknob, you can catch the virus.
Some of the most frequent symptoms of enterovirus include:
- Runny nose
- Nausea and vomiting
“People who catch this virus can sometimes be asymptomatic,” says Darria Long, MD, an ER physician at Northside Hospital in Tennessee.
But it’s also common to have a fever with no other symptoms. This is a key sign of an enterovirus infection because a lone fever is less common in winter colds, which are most commonly caused by rhinovirus infections.
Note: Summer colds tend to last around 10 days and will generally clear up on their own. This 10-day estimate can help distinguish summer colds from allergies, which tend to run for two or more months.
Can You Catch A Cold In Summer
You can absolutely catch a cold in summer, and this year its more likely than ever.
Mr Ahlerup said: People think of the common cold in association with winter, but it’s something that can flare up all year round, especially this year.
We shouldn’t overlook the chances of summer colds with the decrease in recent immunity against them and exposure to germs.
The difference between last winter and this winter will also be something to watch as the everyday viruses re-emerge, typically more soin the winter months.
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Flu Vaccine For Children
Children aged two, three and four years can have a nasal spray vaccination from their GP while school children in years 1, 2 and 3 will be invited by the school health nursing teams to get the nasal spray vaccination at school. Help protect them from flu with one simple nasal spray. It is free fast and painless. Do not put it off. Take up the offer from your GP as soon as you can. Flu can be horrible for little children and if they get it, they can easily spread it around the whole family. Find out more on the NHS website.
Getting A Flu Vaccine During The Covid
Yes. Getting a flu vaccine is an essential part of protecting your health and your familys health every year. Take recommended precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19 while getting your flu vaccine.
Yes. Wearing a mask and physical distancing can help protect you and others from respiratory viruses, like flu and the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the best way to reduce your risk of flu illness and its potentially serious complications is for everyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine each year. By getting a flu vaccine, you may also be protecting people around you who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.
Yes, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time.
Even though both vaccines can be given at the same visit, people should follow the recommended schedule for either vaccine: If you havent gotten your currently recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine, get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can, and ideally get a flu vaccine by the end of October.
While limited data exist on giving COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines, including flu vaccines, experience with giving other vaccines together has shown the way our bodies develop protection and possible side effects are generally similar whether vaccines are given alone or with other vaccines.
If you have concerns about getting both vaccines at the same time, you should speak with a health care provider.
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