Residents encouraged to get their flu jab

Flu press release

Residents encouraged to get their flu jab as soon as possible, especially though at increased risk of severe illness if they catch flu - such as older people, the very young, pregnant women, those with long-term health conditions – particularly chronic lung or heart disease – and those with a weakened immune system.

Councillor Liz Wardlaw, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for health, said: "The flu jab is the single most effective way to protect yourself and those around you.

"While most healthy people generally recover within a week, flu can lead to serious complications, like pneumonia, which require hospital treatment. Every year, thousands of people die from this preventable disease.

"As the flu bug changes every winter, it is very important that people are immunised each year, as the flu jab protects against the strains that will be circulating.

"The best time to get vaccinated is in autumn before the flu season starts, so please speak to your GP surgery or pharmacy about getting the vaccination as soon as possible."

Those eligible to receive a free flu vaccination on the NHS are:

● People aged 65 or over;

● All pregnant women;

● People living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility;

● Those in receipt of a carer's allowance, or those who are the main carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill;

● People aged from six months to less than 65 who have certain medical conditions;

● All two and three-year-olds (nasal spray vaccine); and

● All children in school years reception, 1, 2, 3 4 and 5 (nasal spray vaccine).

Parents of young children are strongly recommended to make sure that their children have had their free flu vaccination. For children aged two to nine, it is quickly done with a simple nasal spray instead of a jab.

Dr Matt Tyrer, health protection lead at Cheshire East Council, added: "Flu is a highly-infectious disease with symptoms that come on very quickly, especially fever, tiredness and aching joints.

"Both adults and children can be very ill with flu and can spread it to others even before they become unwell. Children are also 'super-spreaders' of flu, so vaccinating them can protect more vulnerable members of the community, especially older people."

For advice and information about the flu vaccination, speak to your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist or visit: www.nhs.uk/staywell/

Residents can help friends and neighbours, who do not have internet access, by downloading and printing off information from the website and giving it to them.

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