What is flu?
Flu occurs every year, usually in the winter, which is why it is sometimes called seasonal flu. It is a very infectious disease that can come on very quickly. The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, cough, headache, pains in your joints and muscles and extreme tiredness. Healthy people usually recover within 3 to 4 weeks, but some people can develop serious life-threatening complications and need to be admitted to Hospital.
Colds are much less serious and usually start with a stuffy or a runny nose, sore throat and cough.
The flu vaccine
The flu vaccine is the best available protection against the flu virus. It’s very safe, only takes a few minutes and will last around a year.
Flu is more than a bad cold and can make people very unwell. It’s highly infectious with symptoms that come on quickly and can hit anyone. In the most serious cases, flu can bring on pneumonia, or other serious infections which can, in extreme cases, result in death.
The vaccine is offered each winter flu season, which lasts from October to March.
Who should get the flu vaccine?
Any strain of flu can be dangerous for people who are vulnerable to it. That’s why the following people are urged to get the free flu vaccine as soon as it’s available every winter to help protect against flu:
- People with a health condition
- People aged 65 years or over
- Pregnant women
- People that work in healthcare
- Unpaid carers and young carers
For information on the child flu vaccine, please visit the child flu page
What if I’m not in one of the eligible groups?
If you’re 16 years old or over and not in one of the eligible groups for the free flu immunisation, you can get the vaccine in many high street Pharmacies for a small fee.
How do I know if I have the flu?
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
- fever (temperature above 38°C)
- aches
- tiredness or exhaustion
- headache
More about the symptoms of flu
Flu Clinic
Every Autumn, around September, we start our Flu Clinics. We aim to vaccinate as many of those at risk as possible, as indicated above.
You can book you flu vaccination with the Nurse through reception
