We were reminded by an email that arrived in the BUS in-box this week that it is once again time in the UK to get your flu jab:

‘You may have seen that the latest NHS Stay Well This Winter campaign has launched which encourages vulnerable people including those with long-term health conditions, anyone aged over 65 and their carers to get the free flu jab.

As you may be aware, flu is a highly infectious disease and can lead to serious complications if you have a long-term health condition like: COPD; bronchitis, emphysema; diabetes; heart, kidney or liver disease or have suffered a stroke. We are particularly trying to reach people with these conditions as flu on top of health conditions like these can easily develop into something very serious and could land you in hospital. People with these and other long-term health conditions are eligible for a free flu jab through their GP or pharmacist’.

The campaign leads with the message: ’If you are eligible for the flu vaccine get it now – it’s free because you need it. Contact your GP or pharmacist to the get the flu jab.’

As well as the categories of ‘long-term health conditions, anyone aged over 65 and their carers,’ if you are on immunosuppressant treatment, including oral steroids, at any age, this places you in a priority group for the free flu jab.

In UK and many other countries, the injectable flu vaccine is an ‘inactivated’ vaccine, so it can be safely given to people taking immunosuppressants. However, in UK, there is also a ‘live’ flu vaccine which is given to children via the nose, and this should not be given to anyone who is immunosuppressed.

Further information can be found on the campaign website at nhs.uk/staywell.

A BSL version of the leaflet has also been produced which can be viewed on YouTube at: SWTWBSLleaflet