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| HEALTH |
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| Seasonal flu |
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| 21.10.2011 19:36
- By Nicki Wakeman
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Seasonal flu (also known as influenza), is a highly infectious illness caused by the flu virus. It spreads rapidly through small droplets coughed or sneezed into the air by an infected person.
For most people, seasonal flu is unpleasant but not serious. They usually recover within a week.
However, certain people are at greater risk of developing serious complications of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. These conditions may require hospital treatment. |
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| A new flu vaccine is produced annually because the virus continually changes and different types circulate each winter |
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The seasonal flu vaccine is offered free to people who are at risk to protect them from catching flu and developing serious complications. It is recommended you have a flu jab if you:
• are 65 years old or over
• are pregnant
• have a serious medical condition
• 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 whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill
• are a frontline health or social care worker
If you are the parent of a child who is over six months old and has one of the long-term conditions listed below, speak to your doctor about the flu vaccine. Your child's condition may get worse if they catch flu.
Pregnant women
It is recommended all pregnant women have the seasonal flu vaccine: there is good evidence pregnant women have an increased risk of developing complications if they get flu, particularly from the H1N1 strain. Studies have shown the vaccine can be safely and effectively given during any trimester of pregnancy - it does not carry risks for either mother or baby. In fact, studies have shown that mothers who have the vaccine while pregnant pass some protection onto their babies, which lasts for the first few months of their lives.
People with medical conditions
The seasonal flu vaccine is offered free to anyone over six months of age with one of the following medical conditions:
• chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as severe asthma, COPD or bronchitis
• chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
• chronic kidney disease
• chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
• chronic neurological disease, such as a stroke, TIA or post-polio syndrome
• diabetes
• a weakened immune system due to conditions such as HIV, or treatments that suppress the immune system such as chemotherapy
A new flu vaccine is produced annually because the virus continually changes and different types circulate each winter. Every February the World Health Organization (WHO) assesses the strains most likely to be circulating the following winter in the northern hemisphere. Based on this assessment, WHO recommends which three flu strains the vaccines should contain for the forthcoming winter.
This winter’s jab protects against the same three strains as last year’s. These include the H1N1 strain of the flu virus, the one which caused the 2009 swine flu pandemic.
How it protects you
The vaccine causes your body’s immune system to make antibodies to the flu virus. Antibodies are proteins which recognise and fight off germs which have invaded your blood, such as viruses. If you catch the flu virus later on, the immune system will recognise it and immediately produce the antibodies to fight it. It may take 10–14 days for your immune system to respond fully after you have had the flu injection.
The antibodies against the flu strains will gradually decrease over time and flu strains can change from year to year. You need to have a flu jab every year to ensure the best protection.
Are there any side effects?
The seasonal flu jab does not usually cause side effects; sometimes, it can cause mild fever and slight muscle aches for a day or so. It cannot cause flu as there are no active viruses in the vaccine. However, people sometimes catch other flu-like viruses, or very occasionally catch flu before the vaccine takes effect.
Allergic reactions to the vaccine are rare. You should not have the seasonal flu vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a flu vaccine or one of its ingredients (egg). This happens very rarely.
If you are ill with a fever, do not have your flu jab until you have recovered. |
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