Get Your Jab, Flu Season Has Begun

As the cold weather approaches, NHS staff at Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are offered the flu vaccination to protect themselves and to help reduce the spread of flu. It is really important for NHS staff to have the flu jab because along with keeping them safe, it also helps to protect their colleagues, their patients and their families from contracting the flu virus.

NHS England in Leicestershire and Rutland is reminding those deemed ‘at risk’ that they can get their free flu vaccination at their local pharmacy as well as at their GP practice. At-risk groups include anyone aged 65 and over, pregnant women, children and adults with an underlying health condition (particularly long-term heart or respiratory disease), and children and adults with susceptible immune systems.

Even if you have had the flu vaccination before, you still need to have it every year as the vaccine changes to protect against the different strains of flu which evolve each year. Leading the way, Dr Peter Jenkins, chairman of NHS Wiltshire CCG, recently had his vaccination to protect himself and patients in his care against harm from flu this winter.

Dr Jenkins said: “Wiltshire CCG are supporting NHS England’s drive to increase take-up of the winter flu vaccine and are encouraging its staff to have the vaccination. Flu is a nasty illness and we want to make sure our staff, patients and Wiltshire people are protected against it.”

Flu is highly contagious, can lead to serious complications for those in high-risk groups and, in extreme cases, can prove fatal. Dr Jenkins added: “Winter flu is a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on very quickly. Having the vaccination is a quick and simple procedure with minimal or no side effects providing effective protection against the flu virus.”

Source-Medindia