Cold weather can be seriously bad for your health. That’s why it is especially important to look after yourself during the winter. If you start to feel unwell, even if it’s a cough or a cold, don’t wait until it gets more serious. Seek advice from your pharmacist.
Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.
Flu is very infectious and spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.
Practising good hand hygiene and giving eligible people the flu vaccine is the best defence against the virus.
To reduce the risk of spreading flu:
- use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
- bin used tissues as quickly as possible
- wash your hands often with warm water and soap
If you have children aged two to three go to your GP practice to get them vaccinated now
The flu vaccine will help protect your child from flu and reduce the chance of it spreading on to others. For most children, the flu vaccine is not usually an injection, just a quick and easy nasal spray.
Children aged 2 and 3 (on 31 August 2019) receive the vaccine through their GP and all primary school aged children receive it in school. If you have a child who is of the eligible age, make sure you sign the consent form allowing them to have the flu vaccine at school.
Who else is eligible?
In 2019/20 the free flu vaccination will be offered to:
- Those aged 65 years and over
- Those aged six months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
- Pregnant women
- Those living in a residential or nursing home
- The main carer of an older or disabled person
- Children aged 2-3 (on 31 August 2019) and all primary school aged children
- People with learning disabilities and some carers can also get a free flu jab
If you are eligible for the flu vaccine, get it now – it’s free because you need it.
Contact your general practice, pharmacist or midwife to get it.
Visit www.nhs.uk/fluvaccine for more information.