Don’t underestimate seasonal flu

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Residents across the borough of Rochdale who are at a higher risk of seasonal flu are being encouraged to protect themselves and get their free annual flu jab.

Everyone aged 65 and over is routinely offered the vaccination, as are younger people with long-term conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, multiple sclerosis, serious kidney and liver disease.

This year, for the first time, pregnant women will also be offered the jab as it will protect against the H1N1 virus (swine flu) that will still be circulating this winter. Pregnant women who catch this strain are at an increased risk of severe disease and flu-related hospital admissions.

Last year, 33,178 people in the borough had the seasonal flu vaccine, which must be administered every year as it is altered to match the flu strains in circulation. It is, however, estimated there are almost another 20,000 people aged over 65 or in an at-risk group in the borough who should have the vaccine to protect themselves from the virus.

Dr Sheila Will, Health Protection Consultant in Public Health at NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale said: “If you’ve previously had the seasonal flu jab or fall into an ‘at-risk’ category then it’s really important to get yourself protected for another year.

“This year’s seasonal flu vaccine will include a component from the swine flu vaccine, but it is important to recognise it is not the virus itself that is being included. The vaccination does not contain any live virus so cannot cause flu.”

Every year flu-related deaths occur in the winter months - these deaths are avoidable.

The best way to avoid flu is to get immunised, but in addition, people can protect themselves by practising good hand hygiene with the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ technique. This means carrying tissues, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, disposing of the tissue after one use, and cleaning hands as soon as possible with soap and water or an alcohol hand gel.

The flu vaccination programme is now rolling out in GP practices and pharmacies across the borough, so if you haven’t been invited for yours yet then speak to your GP or local pharmacist.

More information about flu can be found at www.nhs.uk/winterhealth