Flu vaccination - Your questions answered
What is flu?
Flu is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract. It is a highly infectious illness, which spreads rapidly in closed communities, and even those with mild symptoms can infect others.
Symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat and stuffy nose. Flu is far worse than a cold and recovery may involve up to a week in bed.
What causes flu?
Flu is caused by viruses that infect the windpipe and lungs. And because it’s caused by viruses and not bacteria, antibiotics won’t treat it.
How do you catch flu? Can I avoid catching it?
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.
The best way to avoid catching and spreading flu is by getting vaccinated before the flu season starts.
What harm can flu do?
People sometimes confuse a bad cold with flu but having flu can be much worse than a cold and you may need to stay in bed for a few days or longer if you have flu.
Some people are more susceptible to the effects of flu. For them it can increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, or can make existing conditions worse. In the worst cases, flu can result in a stay in hospital, or even death.
Who is at an increased risk from the effects of flu?
People who are healthy can be at an increased risk from the effects of flu if they are:
- pregnant
or have:
- a heart problem
- a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis or emphysema
- a kidney disease
- lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment)
- liver disease
- had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- diabetes
- a neurological condition, for example multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy
- a problem with your spleen, for example sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed
- being seriously overweight (a BMI of 40 or above)
I am pregnant - do I need a flu vaccination this year?
Yes. All pregnant women should have the flu vaccine to protect themselves and their babies. The flu vaccine can be given safely at any stage of pregnancy, from conception onwards.
Pregnant women benefit from the flu vaccine because it:
- reduces their risk of serious complications such as pneumonia, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy
- reduces the risk of miscarriage or having a baby born too soon or with a low birth weight
- will help protect their baby who will continue to have some immunity to flu during the first few months of its life
- will help protect any other children in the household.
I am pregnant and I think I might have flu. What should I do?
You should talk to your doctor urgently, because if you do have flu, there is a prescribed medicine that might help (or reduce the risk of complications), but it needs to be taken very soon after the symptoms appear.
If you are pregnant, talk to your GP or midwife if you are unsure about the flu vaccination.
Do I need the flu vaccination if I've already had flu?
As you won’t know which flu virus has caused your flu, you should still have the vaccination to protect you against the other flu viruses as soon as the illness has gone.
Who shouldn't have the flu vaccination?
Almost everybody can have the vaccine, if you have had a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine in the past contact your GP before booking your appointment.
If you are allergic to hen’s eggs or have a condition that weakens your immune system, you may not be able to have certain types of flu vaccine – check with your GP.
If you have a fever, the vaccination may be delayed until you are better.
Why should I have the flu vaccination?
Vaccination isn’t just about keeping yourself safe, it’s about protecting your colleagues, your family and your friends. You can carry and pass the virus on to others without having any symptoms yourself, so even if you consider yourself healthy, you might be risking the lives of others.
With new figures showing thousands of deaths associated with COVID and flu in recent years, it is clear that the threat of winter viruses is all too real, and it is vital that anyone eligible takes up the offer to get vaccinated.
Will I get any side effects from the flu vaccination?
Side effects are mild or often non-existent. The most common side effects are soreness around the site of the injection and occasionally aching muscles, this shows your body is responding to the vaccine and building a defence. These symptoms are a lot less serious than having the flu and can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers.
Will the flu vaccine protect me from flu completely?
Most people who have the flu vaccination will not get flu. However, like any vaccine, it does not give complete protection. When the vaccine is well matched to the circulating virus strains, then around three-quarters of those vaccinated are likely to be protected. The rest may have some protection that could reduce the severity of their symptoms.
How long will the flu vaccine protect me for?
The vaccine should provide protection throughout the 2024/25 flu season.
Who can have the flu vaccination?
Those eligible for NHS influenza vaccination in 2024 to 2025 are:
- 2-3 years on 31st August 2024
- All primary school aged children (Reception – Year 6)
- Secondary school aged children (Year 7 – 11)
- 65 years +
- 6 months – 64 years in a clinical risk group
- Pregnant women
- Household contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- Residents in long-stay care homes or other long-stay care facilities
- Health and Social Care staff
- Unpaid carers
If invited don’t delay – get the vaccines. And if you’re unsure if you’re eligible or have any concerns please do speak with your GP surgery or local pharmacist.
Is the flu vaccine safe?
The flu vaccine is one of the safest in the world. Seasonal flu vaccine is given to millions of people in the UK each year. The risk of having a serious (anaphylactic) reaction to the seasonal flu vaccine is less than one in a million: much lower than the risk of getting seriously ill from having the flu itself. If you have had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a flu vaccine before however, please talk to a clinician before getting vaccinated.
Can the flu jab give you the flu?
It is impossible to get flu from the having the flu vaccine because the vaccine doesn’t contain live viruses. A very small number of people experience side effects such as aching muscles, but this is simply the immune system responding to the vaccine.
How do I get a flu vaccination with the NHS?
You can book, change or cancel appointments for the flu vaccine on the NHS website.
You can also attend walk-in centres or pharmacies that do not require an appointment to get the flu vaccine.
There will also be pop-up clinics across the Black Country where people can go to get a flu vaccine if they are eligible.
