At risk residents urged to protect themselves from seasonal flu

Date published: 15 October 2009

Residents who are most at risk of developing serious complications from seasonal flu are being urged by NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR) to take advantage of a free jab as winter approaches.

The call is timed to coincide with the Department of Health’s annual seasonal flu immunisation campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the free seasonal flu vaccination for people in at-risk groups.

Seasonal flu should not be confused with swine flu, a vaccine for which will be available later this winter. But seasonal flu is responsible for the deaths of about 8,000 people a year – many of them elderly. It does not offer 100% protection from catching seasonal flu, but out of every 100 people immunised, 70 to 80 will be protected.

Dr Sheila Will, Director of Public Health at NHS HMR said: “The seasonal flu virus can be potentially life-threatening, will generally require weeks of recovery time and is far worse than the common cold. Those at greater risk of developing complications from seasonal flu should visit their local surgery as soon as possible to protect themselves in the months ahead. For older people seasonal flu could be a more serious illness than pandemic flu so they need to get their usual flu jab

“Seasonal flu should not be underestimated, especially as it can carries the risk of serious complications such as pneumonia.”

As well as those aged 65 and over, the at-risk categories for seasonal flu are adults and children aged six months to 65 years who have:

• A heart problem 
• A chest complaint or breathing difficulties including, bronchitis, emphysema
  a kidney disease
• Lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment) 
• A liver disease
• Had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• Diabetes 
• A neurological condition e.g. multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy
• A problem with, or removal of, their spleen e.g. sickle cell disease.

Typically, fewer than half those under 65 in at-risk groups take advantage of the free jab, leaving thousands vulnerable.

Those who got the seasonal flu vaccination last year will need a new seasonal flu jab this winter because the virus changes every year and the vaccine needs to match the latest version of the virus. The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect you against swine flu.

Talk to your local GP, nurse or pharmacist to find out more, or visit www.nhs.uk/flu.

How is swine flu different to seasonal flu?

Swine flu is a completely new virus to which very few people are likely to have immunity. It has occurred at a time of the year when seasonal flu isn’t around, and may affect more people than seasonal flu. It might become more serious. The seasonal flu vaccination does not protect against swine flu.

The vaccine to protect against swine flu will be available later in the winter and the following people have been prioritised for vaccination in the following order:

• People aged six months and up to 65 years of age in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups
• All pregnant women (depending on the licence for the vaccine)
• Household contacts of immunocompromised people
• People aged 65 years and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups

When swine flu vaccine is available then you may be offered it as well as the seasonal flu vaccine and they can be given at the same time. Dr Sheila Will said: “I would urge those who are eligible to have seasonal flu vaccination not to put off having their annual flu jab as we do not know exactly when the pandemic vaccine will be available and this would leave them vulnerable to seasonal flu which is at present likely to result in a more serious illness for most people than swine flu.”