Seasonal Flu Vaccine Winter 2011-12

Now is the time to start thinking about your seasonal flu vaccine. It is wisest to get it as soon as you can, don't wait until 2012 when flu is already rampaging through the community.

Reconstructed 'flu virus

Seal Medical Group will start making appointments on 19th September and vaccination will commence the first week in October once we have the supplies from the manufacturer.

Selsey Medical Practice will make appointments from September and vaccination will commence the first week in October also.

Who should be vaccinated?

1. Anyone aged 65 years or older
2. Any pregnant woman
It is recommended that all pregnant women have the flu vaccination irrespective of the stage of pregnancy. Evidence suggests that pregnant women are more likely to get serious complications with flu, especially if they catch the H1N1 strain. The vaccine itself does not cause complications to either the mother or the child.
3. People with a serious medical condition.
• Chronic (long term) respiratory disease including severe asthma, COPD, Bronchitis etc
• Chronic heart disease such as heart failure
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic neurological disease such as Stroke, TIA, Polio syndrome
• Diabetes
• A weakened immunological system due to conditions such as HIV/AIDS, or treatments that suppress the immune system such as chemotherapy
4. People living in a long stay residential care home or other long stay care facility (but not prisons, young offender institutions or university halls of residence)
5. People who are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if that person is ill
6. People who are frontline health or social care workers. In this case your employer is responsible for ensuring their staff has access to the seasonal flu vaccine - usually through occupational health

Flu vaccines are made from a variety of flu strains. The World Health Organisation decides each February which flu strains are likely to be the biggest threat in the coming winter months. The flu viruses are grown in hens' eggs. The virus is then inactivated (killed) and purified before being made into a vaccine.

7-10 days following your flu jab, your body starts to make antibodies to the dead virus. The antibodies are then able to recognize the live virus if you become infected and stop them multiplying and kill the invading virus before they are able to make you ill.

Side effects from the flu jab are minor, occasionally mild fever and slight muscle ache for a day or so. The flu jab will not give you flu. The virus in the vaccine is killed so cannot multiply to make you ill. However you may be unfortunate enough to catch other flu like viruses or to catch flu before you body has had chance to make the antibodies from the vaccine.

Allergic reactions to the vaccine are rare.

Who should not have the flu jab?

1. People who have had a previous allergic reaction to a flu vaccine (rare)
2. People who have a serious allergy to hens' eggs (very rare)
3. If you have a fever, do not have your flu jab until you have recovered
4. If you are healthy, under 65 and do not fall into the above list of 6 categories who should be vaccinated. You do not need a flu jab as your body can fight off the virus if you become ill with it.