Seasonal Information

Flu Vaccination

Have you thought about having the flu vaccine this year?

It provides protection for you and your family / friends / work colleagues from the three worst flu viruses that will be around this winter as recommended by the WHO.

A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus

A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus

B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus

Reports suggest flu is responsible for more than 18,000 deaths each year in E&W (30,000 hospital admins, over 1m GP consultations…)
Highly contagious respiratory infection.
Easily spread from person to person by air droplets.
Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your family from flu.

What should you know?

You can NOT get flu from the vaccine. The vaccine contains an inactive virus.

Once vaccinated your body will produce antibodies that will help defend your body from these viruses.
The vaccine is the same as last winter! However, immunity decreases after 6 months of having the vaccine. Therefore you cannot rely on last year’s vaccine to protect you and another dose is strongly recommended.
It can take ~ 2 weeks for the vaccine to fully start working.

You may be eligible for the FREE NHS service?

65 years +
Chronic heart disease
Chronic liver or renal disease
Diabetes
Pregnant
Immunosuppressed
Long term residential care
Carers

At Wilson’s Pharmacy we are now able to offer you a flu vaccine in the pharmacy

Are you eligible for the PHARMACY service?

Must be 18 years or over
Must not have had a flu vaccine in the past 6 months
Must not be pregnant
Must not have any bleeding disorders / warfarin…
Must not have had an adverse reaction to the flu vaccine before.

After care:

Sore arm / inflammation at site of injection are usual reactions. Advice: Cold flannel

Headache / fever Advice: drink plenty of water / pain killers

Symptoms persist for more than 48 hours: Advice: Speak to GP