Flu can be a serious illness and it is important to protect yourself from its effects.
The Flu Vaccination
If you are in an ‘at risk’ group (see below), the best way to protect yourself from the flu is by getting vaccinated.
The flu vaccine is recommended if you:
- are 65 or over,
- Are aged 2, 3 or 4 pre-school children only – if your child misses their nasal flu appointment at school, the surgery is not responsible for the catch up – please contact your school nurse for further information.
- have a serious medical condition including asthma, COPD, heart, kidney or liver disease, diabetes, a chronic neurological condition such as Parkinson’s disease
- have a weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment such as chemotherapy
- live in a residential or nursing home,
- are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill
- are a healthcare or social care professional directly involved in patient care
- are pregnant
If you are unsure if you should have the job or not, please discuss it with a G.P.
To stay protected against the flu, you need to have the flu jab every year.
Children receive the vaccine via an intranasal spray rather than an injection
How do I know if I have Flu?
The main symptoms of flu are a high temperature and generalised aches and pains. It may also cause a dry cough, nausea and loss of appetite.
What should I do if I have Flu?
If you have flu like symptoms we advise that you stay at home and call the surgery for advice: this is important to avoid the spread of flu.
Generally, making sure that you rest, drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol regularly is the best way to treat the symptoms of flu.
When should I seek further assistance?
If you have any of the following symptoms, you could be more seriously well and we recommend contacting a doctor for advice:
- Increased difficulty breathing (unable to finish a sentence or breathing more rapidly than usual)
- Bringing up thick yellow, green, brown or bloody phlegm
- Sharp chest pains that make it difficult to cough or breathe deeply
- Severe earache
- A change in behaviour such as being more confused
- Being much more drowsy than normal, especially while eating or talking.
More information about the flu jab is available from the NHS website.
More information about flu can be found on the NHS website.
Childrens Nasal Flu
Childrens nasal flu will be given at your childs school, if your child has missed the date please get in touch with the school nurse.