Flu vaccines do an amazing job of limiting the quantity of people that find yourself in hospital with the sickness.
Last winter, getting vaccinated minimize the danger of being hospitalised by 66% in youngsters and 25% in adults over 65.
But there are persistent misconceptions concerning the vaccine that put some folks off from getting it.
Whether you’re eligible for the NHS vaccine, your office is providing jabs otherwise you’re contemplating paying for one out of your personal pocket, right here’s what you want to know.
You cannot get flu from the vaccine
It is unattainable to get flu from the flu vaccine, as a result of it doesn’t include the stay virus.
You would possibly really feel a bit shivery or have a slight fever – however that is an immune response, not the flu – Professor Peter Openshaw, a virus skilled at Imperial College London, advised Sky News.
“It’s showing that your body is doing what it’s meant to do, which is to create an immune response against influenza, which is protective,” he mentioned.
“So it isn’t flu, but it does have some resemblances to flu.”
It is protected to get the flu vaccine whereas pregnant
In truth, it’s inspired.
Studies have proven it’s protected to have the flu vaccine whereas pregnant and pregnant ladies can get the jab free on the NHS.
Pregnancy adjustments how the physique offers with infections corresponding to flu and pregnant ladies usually tend to have issues in the event that they catch flu.
If you will have flu when you’re pregnant, it may trigger your child to be born prematurely or have a low start weight, in accordance with the NHS. In essentially the most critical circumstances, it may result in stillbirth or demise.
Prof Openshaw mentioned whereas he understood folks’s hesitancy, “everything is positive about getting vaccinated in pregnancy”.
Not solely does it shield you, however you additionally go that on to your child.
“If you get vaccinated in the later stages of pregnancy, then you will develop antibodies to influenza which you share with your baby,” Prof Openshaw defined.
“You share it through the placenta and through breastmilk, and therefore you are protecting your baby.”
Flu is not ‘only a unhealthy chilly’
Colds are a lot much less critical than flu, in accordance with the UK Health Security Agency.
You would possibly recuperate from flu in two to seven days in case you’re wholesome “but for some the disease can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even death”, the company warns.
Some folks can develop extra critical sicknesses corresponding to bronchitis and pneumonia, or the flu could make present situations worse.
Prof Openshaw mentioned whereas the flu may be delicate, “it can cause very nasty disease in some people, particularly if they are at high risk”.
High-risk teams embody over-65s, and other people with diabetes and different pre-existing situations, together with coronary heart and lung illness, and pregnant ladies.
Get a jab even in case you combat off sicknesses shortly
Even in case you recuperate shortly from the flu, it’s possible you’ll go it on to somebody extra weak who may turn out to be critically in poor health.
You can begin spreading flu a day earlier than your signs begin, which means you possibly can be strolling round not figuring out you might be sick and making others in poor health.
As effectively as being a person option to cease sickness, flu vaccines are a public well being measure that shield essentially the most weak.
You can get the flu regardless of being vaccinated – however your likelihood is decrease
Even in case you’re vaccinated, it’s possible you’ll find yourself getting flu as a result of the vaccine does not shield in opposition to each pressure.
However, your likelihood is considerably lowered since you’re protected in opposition to the primary strains.
You may additionally catch a virus that is not the flu, however has comparable signs – just like the frequent chilly.
If that occurs “people shouldn’t be fooled into thinking that the vaccine hasn’t worked,” Prof Openshaw mentioned.
The flu vaccine will nonetheless be doing its job to guard you in opposition to the primary strains of flu and the potential issues.
Why it’s best to get the jab in case your employer is providing it
Prof Openshaw mentioned his recommendation to anybody supplied the flu vaccine is to take it.
That’s no matter whether or not or not you might be eligible for the flu jab by way of the NHS (extra on that under).
“I think that anyone who’s offered it is going to benefit,” he mentioned.
“The established benefits to your health of being vaccinated are so clear that there is no reason to turn down a vaccine unless there’s a specific medical contraindication, which is extremely rare.”
You want the vaccine even in case you received it final 12 months
The flu vaccine is tailor-made annually to the dominant strains, so what you had been protected in opposition to final 12 months won’t be what your immune system will encounter this 12 months.
The antibodies that shield you additionally decline over time, so that you want a yearly jab to be sure you’re correctly protected.
Don’t wait till the useless of winter
It is greatest to have the flu jab within the autumn or early winter earlier than flu charges begin growing.
It can take 10 to 14 days earlier than your immunity to flu is totally constructed up, so it is best to not depart it till folks in your workplace are calling in sick with it.
That mentioned, if mid-winter rolls round and you have not received it, it’s nonetheless price reserving it so that you’re protected for the remainder of the season.
Read extra:
Flu and COVID jabs: Who’s eligible and when are you able to get it?
Universal flu jab strikes one step nearer
You want the jab even in case you’ve had a bout of flu
The flu jab protects in opposition to a number of strains of flu.
If you’ve got been in poor health, you’ll simply have had a kind of – so you continue to want a jab to be protected in opposition to the others.
If you are allergic to eggs, you possibly can nonetheless often get the vaccine
Some flu vaccines are made utilizing eggs, with the virus grown in fertilised hens’ eggs.
That means tiny traces of egg may be discovered within the vaccine.
In most circumstances, you possibly can have the flu vaccine even if in case you have a critical egg allergy.
Special preparations could should be made if in case you have beforehand had a extreme anaphylaxis to egg which has required intensive care.
The NHS advises folks to debate it with their nurse, physician or pharmacist.
Most youngsters who’re allergic to eggs can obtain the nasal spray vaccine, but when they wanted intensive care therapy after a extreme response to egg, they need to be referred to a specialist.
There are additionally vaccines with a really low egg content material, or no egg, out there for each adults and kids, Prof Openshaw mentioned.
Most youngsters want a flu jab
Babies underneath 6 months can not have a flu jab. Between 6 months and a couple of years, youngsters solely should be vaccinated if they’re in a scientific danger group (see extra on that under).
Children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023 will probably be supplied the nasal spray flu vaccine at their GP surgical procedure.
School-aged youngsters from reception to 12 months 11 are additionally eligible for a free vaccine, which will probably be given at college or group clinics.
Vaccinating youngsters prevents them from getting critically in poor health and ending up in hospital, and likewise protects their households and wider group.
Who is eligible for flu vaccines on the NHS?
The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to adults who:
• are 65 and over (together with those that will probably be 65 by 31 March 2024)
• have sure well being situations together with diabetes, coronary heart illness, some neurological ailments, liver illness or a weakened immune system (as an illustration as a consequence of being prescribed steroids or handled for most cancers)
• are pregnant
• are critically chubby (BMI over 40)
• are in long-stay residential care
• obtain a carer’s allowance, or are the primary carer for an older or disabled one that could also be in danger in case you get sick
• stay with somebody who’s extra more likely to get a extreme an infection as a consequence of a weakened immune system, corresponding to somebody dwelling with HIV, somebody who has had a transplant, or is having sure remedies for most cancers, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
Clinical danger teams in youngsters embody:
• Chronic respiratory or neurological illness
• Chronic situations of the guts, kidney, liver or digestive system
• Endocrine issues
• Immunosuppression
• Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
• Serious genetic abnormalities that have an effect on plenty of techniques.
Source: information.sky.com”