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Appointments Telephone Advice Home Visits Test Results Registering Prescriptions Useful Numbers Local Services History Influenza Vaccinations Useful Information Other Information Neighbourhood Professionals Contact Us	Lakenham Surgery Influenza Vaccinations At this time of year we start to get enquiries from patients about our annual flu campaign, which last year saw us vaccinate over 2000 patients against this disease. Traditionally, the campaign runs from October through to December and most people are aware that patients aged 65 or over (as at 30/3/2012) are eligible for a free vaccination through the NHS. However, there are various medical conditions, detailed below, that can cause the symptoms of flu to be particularly severe and the Department of Health recommends that these patients are also vaccinated. Again this is available free of charge and includes children and babies over 6 months of age. Patients eligible for a vaccination under the NHS Aged 65 and over by 31/3/2012 All pregnant ladies – at whatever stage of pregnancy. In addition patients suffering with one or more of the following are eligible: - heart disease kidney disease liver disease diabetes respiratory disease such as asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD including those who suffer from chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Carers* - Those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill. Patients who are on a course of chemotherapy or other treatment that can result in immunosuppression. Patients who have suffered a stroke. If you are unsure whether you are entitled to a flu vaccination then please speak with a member of the reception team. Over the last few years the majority of patients have had their vaccination at one of our specially arranged Saturday morning clinics. Details of the dates of these clinics and other information on how you can receive the vaccination will appear on the ‘notice board’ page of this website. * This category refers to individual carers entitled to a free flu vaccine on the NHS, not professional health and social care workers who should approach their employer as part of their occupational health programme. FAQ’s WHAT IS SEASONAL FLU Seasonal flu which occurs every year is a viral infection of the respiratory tract. The most likely viruses to cause flu each year are identified in advance and vaccines are then produced that closely match them. The H1N1 virus that caused the ‘swine flu’ pandemic a couple of years ago is still likely to be around this winter, so this year’s seasonal flu vaccine will include a vaccine to protect against this virus. WHAT HARM CAN SEASONAL FLU DO? Flu is a highly infectious and very common viral illness that is spread by coughs and sneezes. It's not the same as the common cold. Flu is caused by a different group of viruses and symptoms tend to be more severe and last for longer. Flu causes a sudden high temperature, headache and general aches and pains, tiredness and sore throat. You can also lose your appetite, feel nauseous and have a cough. Flu symptoms can make you feel so exhausted and unwell that you have to stay in bed and rest until you feel better. Some people are more susceptible to the effects of seasonal flu. For them it can increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia, or make existing conditions worse. In the worst cases, seasonal flu can result in a stay in hospital, or even death. I HAD THE SEASONAL FLU VACCINATION LAST YEAR. DO I NEED A FURTHER FLU JAB THIS YEAR? Yes. The viruses that cause flu change every year. This means some of the flu strains that will be circulating this winter will be different from last winter’s. So the vaccine you need to protect you from these different strains will be different as well. IS THERE ANYONE WHO SHOULDN’T HAVE THE VACCINATION? Almost everyone can have the vaccine, but you should not be vaccinated if you have had a serious allergy to the vaccine in the past, or if you have a serious allergy to hen’s eggs. If you have a fever, the vaccination may be delayed. WILL I GET ANY SIDE EFFECTS? There might be slight soreness at the point of injection and some people experience mild cold like symptoms for a couple of days after having the injection. More serious reactions are possible but rare. It is not possible to catch flu from having the injection because the vaccine doesn’t contain live viruses. I AM PREGNANT IS THE VACCINATION SAFE FOR ME AND THE BABY? As was the case last year, this winter it is recommended that all pregnant women should have the seasonal flu vaccine irrespective of their stage of pregnancy. This is because there is good evidence to suggest that pregnant women have an increased risk of developing complications if they get flu, particularly the H1N1 strain. Studies have also shown that the inactivated flu vaccine can be safely and effectively given at any time during pregnancy. The vaccine itself does not present an increased risk of complications to either the mother or baby.
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Lakenham Surgery Influenza Vaccinations

At this time of year we start to get enquiries from patients about our annual flu campaign, which last year saw us vaccinate over 2000 patients against this disease.

Traditionally, the campaign runs from October through to December and most people are aware that patients aged 65 or over (as at 30/3/2012) are eligible for a free vaccination through the NHS.

However, there are various medical conditions, detailed below, that can cause the symptoms of flu to be particularly severe and the Department of Health recommends that these patients are also vaccinated. Again this is available free of charge and includes children and babies over 6 months of age.

Patients eligible for a vaccination under the NHS

Aged 65 and over by 31/3/2012
All pregnant ladies – at whatever stage of pregnancy.

In addition patients suffering with one or more of the following are eligible: -

heart disease
kidney disease
liver disease
diabetes
respiratory disease such as asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD including those who suffer from chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Carers* - Those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.
Patients who are on a course of chemotherapy or other treatment that can result in immunosuppression.
Patients who have suffered a stroke.

If you are unsure whether you are entitled to a flu vaccination then please speak with a member of the reception team.

Over the last few years the majority of patients have had their vaccination at one of our specially arranged Saturday morning clinics. Details of the dates of these clinics and other information on how you can receive the vaccination will appear on the ‘notice board’ page of this website.

* This category refers to individual carers entitled to a free flu vaccine on the NHS, not professional health and social care workers who should approach their employer as part of their occupational health programme.

FAQ’s

WHAT IS SEASONAL FLU

Seasonal flu which occurs every year is a viral infection of the respiratory tract. The most likely viruses to cause flu each year are identified in advance and vaccines are then produced that closely match them.

The H1N1 virus that caused the ‘swine flu’ pandemic a couple of years ago is still likely to be around this winter, so this year’s seasonal flu vaccine will include a vaccine to protect against this virus.

WHAT HARM CAN SEASONAL FLU DO?

Flu is a highly infectious and very common viral illness that is spread by coughs and sneezes. It's not the same as the common cold. Flu is caused by a different group of viruses and symptoms tend to be more severe and last for longer.

Flu causes a sudden high temperature, headache and general aches and pains, tiredness and sore throat. You can also lose your appetite, feel nauseous and have a cough. Flu symptoms can make you feel so exhausted and unwell that you have to stay in bed and rest until you feel better.

Some people are more susceptible to the effects of seasonal flu. For them it can increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia, or make existing conditions worse. In the worst cases, seasonal flu can result in a stay in hospital, or even death.

I HAD THE SEASONAL FLU VACCINATION LAST YEAR. DO I NEED A FURTHER FLU JAB THIS YEAR?

Yes. The viruses that cause flu change every year. This means some of the flu strains that will be circulating this winter will be different from last winter’s. So the vaccine you need to protect you from these different strains will be different as well.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO SHOULDN’T HAVE THE VACCINATION?

Almost everyone can have the vaccine, but you should not be vaccinated if you have had a serious allergy to the vaccine in the past, or if you have a serious allergy to hen’s eggs.

If you have a fever, the vaccination may be delayed.

WILL I GET ANY SIDE EFFECTS?

There might be slight soreness at the point of injection and some people experience mild cold like symptoms for a couple of days after having the injection. More serious reactions are possible but rare.

It is not possible to catch flu from having the injection because the vaccine doesn’t contain live viruses.

I AM PREGNANT IS THE VACCINATION SAFE FOR ME AND THE BABY?

As was the case last year, this winter it is recommended that all pregnant women should have the seasonal flu vaccine irrespective of their stage of pregnancy.

This is because there is good evidence to suggest that pregnant women have an increased risk of developing complications if they get flu, particularly the H1N1 strain.

Studies have also shown that the inactivated flu vaccine can be safely and effectively given at any time during pregnancy. The vaccine itself does not present an increased risk of complications to either the mother or baby.