Page 20 - SEPTEMBER 2017 A ISSUE

20 www.hello-philippines.com HEALTH and Lifestyle September 2017 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

FLU AND THE FLU VACCINE
FLU is a highly infectious illness Because flu is caused by a virus and your GP about the flu jab if you’re
that spreads rapidly through the not bacteria, antibiotics won’t treat it. 65 or over, or if you have any of the Your GP may advise you to have a If you’re the carer
coughs and sneezes of people who are following problems (however old you flu jab if you have serious liver disease, of an elderly or
carrying the virus. Anyone can get flu, but it can be are): multiple sclerosis (MS) or some other disabled person,
more serious for certain people, such diseases of the nervous system. make sure they’ve
If you’re at risk of complications as: • a serious heart complaint had their flu jab.
from flu, make sure you have your • you are very overweight with a Pregnant women and the flu As a carer, you
annual flu vaccine available from • people aged 65 or over BMI over 40 jab. If you’re pregnant, you should could be eligible
September onwards. • people who have a serious • a chest complaint or breathing have the flu jab, regardless of the for a flu jab too.
medical condition difficulties, including asthma, stage of pregnancy you’ve reached.
There are two types of flu vaccine: • people who are very overweight bronchitis and emphysema Pregnant women are more prone to It’s free and it’s effective against the
• Find out about the injected flu • pregnant women • serious kidney disease complications from flu that can cause latest flu virus strains.
vaccine for adults and children under If you are in one of these groups, • diabetes serious illness for both mother and
two. you’re more vulnerable to the effects • lowered immunity due to disease baby. Even if you’ve already had a flu
• Find out about the nasal spray of flu (even if you’re fit and healthy) or treatment such as steroid medication vaccine in previous years, you need
flu vaccine for children over the age of and could develop flu complications, or cancer treatment If you are pregnant and catch another one each year. The flu vaccine
two. which are more serious illnesses such • if you have had a stroke or a flu, talk to your GP urgently as you may only protect you for a year
The effects of flu. Flu symptoms can as bronchitis and pneumonia, which transient ischaemic attack (TIA) may need treatment with antiviral because the viruses that cause flu are
hit quite suddenly and severely. They could result in hospitalisation. • if you have a problem with your medicine. always changing.
usually include fever, chills, headaches Flu can also make existing medical spleen or you have had your spleen
and aching muscles. You can often get conditions worse. removed Children and the flu vaccine. The The pneumococcal vaccine. When
a cough and sore throat. Should you have the flu jab? See flu vaccine for children is a nasal spray you see your GP for a flu jab, ask whether
and is available each year on the NHS you also need the pneumococcal
10 myths about flu and the flu vaccine for two-, three- and four-year-olds plus vaccine, which protects you against
THERE are many myths surrounding the length of time you may be ill. To be children in school years one and two. some forms of pneumococcal infection
including pneumonia.
flu and the flu vaccine. Here are 10 effective, antivirals have to be given within Over time, as the programme rolls
out, all children between the ages of Like the flu jab, the pneumococcal
common flu myths and the truth behind a day or two of your symptoms appearing. two and 16 will be vaccinated against vaccine (also known as the pneumonia
flu each year with the nasal spray. vaccine or “pneumo jab”) is available
them. A bacterial infection may occur as a result free on the NHS to everyone aged 65
Children with a long-term health or over, and for younger people with
The flu vaccine is available on the of having the flu, in which case you may be condition should also have a flu some serious medical conditions. But
vaccination because their illness it’s a one-off jab rather than an annual
NHS for adults and children who are given antibiotics. could get worse if they catch flu. This one.
includes any child over the age of six
considered “at risk”. xOnce you’ve had the flu vaccine, months of age with a long-term health How effective is the flu jab?. No
problem such as a serious respiratory vaccine is 100% effective, however,
The injected flu vaccine (or flu jab) is you’re protected for life. No, you aren’t. or neurological condition. people who have had the flu jab are
less likely to get flu. If you do get flu
available for anyone aged 65 and over, The viruses that cause flu can change every If you have a child with a long-term despite having the jab, it will probably
condition, speak to your GP about be milder than if you haven’t been
mums-to-be at any stage of pregnancy, year, so you need a vaccination each year whether they should have the flu vaccinated.
vaccination. Some children with a long-
people who are very overweight that matches the new viruses. The vaccine injection, and as a nasal spray for children term health condition may be advised Flu jab side effects. The flu jab
to have the flu vaccine injection rather doesn’t cause flu as it doesn’t contain
and people with a long-term health usually provides protection for the duration aged 2 to 18 years. than the nasal spray. live viruses. However, you may
experience side effects after having
condition. You should haveof the flu season that year. Children at risk from flu include Carers and the flu jab. If you’re the the jab, such as a temperature and
The nasal spray flu vaccine is the vaccine those with a pre-existing illness such as a carer of an elderly or disabled person, aching muscles for a couple of days
respiratory or neurological condition, or make sure they’ve had their flu jab. As afterwards. Your arm may feel sore at
recommended for all two, three and whatever stage children who are having treatment such as a carer, you could be eligible for a flu the site where you were injected. More
four-year-olds and children in school of pregnancy you chemotherapy. jab too. severe reactions are rare.
years one and two plus children aged are in. If you’re
from 2 to 18 with a long-term health The nasal spray flu vaccine is also How the flu vaccine works. The flu vaccine only protects
condition. pregnant, you recommended on the NHS for all healthy against flu, but not other illnesses
could get very ill if two, three and four-year-old children plus The injected flu vaccine contains caused by other viruses, such as the
uHaving flu is just like having a you get flu, which children in school years one and two. inactivated strains of the flu virus and common cold.
could also be bad therefore cannot cause flu.
heavy cold. A bad bout of flu is much Eventually, the vaccination programme Who shouldn’t have the flu jab? You
worse than a heavy cold. Flu symptoms for your baby.” will be extended so that all children aged The nasal spray flu vaccine for shouldn’t have the flu vaccination if:
come on suddenly and sometimes from 6 months to 16 years are able to have children contains live, but weakened
severely. They include fever, chills, the flu vaccine. forms of flu virus but again this vaccine • you’ve had a serious reaction to a
headaches and aching muscles, as well does not cause flu. flu vaccination before
as a cough and sore throat. You’re likely |I’ve had the flu already this
to spend two or three days in bed. If The flu virus in both the injected • you have a high temperature
you get complications caused by flu, you autumn, so I don’t need the vaccination and nasal spray vaccine is grown on (postpone it until you’re better)
this year. You do need it if you’re in one of fertilised hens’ eggs so anyone with a
known egg allergy should be given an Not all flu vaccines are suitable for
could become seriously ill and have to go yI’m pregnant, so I shouldn’t have the risk groups. As flu is caused by several alternative egg-free vaccine. children, so discuss this with your GP
beforehand.
to hospital. the flu jab because it will affect my baby. viruses, you will only be protected by the How to get the flu vaccine. If you
think you or your child needs a flu Speak to your GP, practice nurse
vHaving the flu vaccine gives You should have the vaccine whatever stage immunity you developed naturally against vaccination, check with your GP, or pharmacist if you have any further
you flu. No, it doesn’t. The injected flu of pregnancy you are in. If you’re pregnant, one of them. You could go on to catch practice nurse or your local pharmacist. questions. n NHS Choices

vaccine that is given to adults contains you could get very ill if you get flu, which another strain, so it’s recommended you The best time of the year to have a
flu vaccination is in the autumn from
inactivated flu viruses, so it can’t give you could also be bad for your baby. Having have the jab even if you’ve recently had flu. the beginning of October to early
November. Most GP surgeries arrange
flu. Your arm may feel a bit sore where the jab can also protect your baby against Also, what you thought was flu could have flu vaccination clinics around this time.

you were injected, and some people get flu after they’re born and during the early been something else.

a slight temperature and aching muscles months of life. }If I missed having the flu jab in

for a couple of days afterwards, but zThe flu jab won’t protect me October, it’s too late to have it later in

other reactions are very rare. against swine flu. Yes, it will. This year’s the year. No, it’s not too late. It’s better to

The children’s flu nasal spray vaccine flu vaccine protects against three different have the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes

contains live but weakened flu viruses flu viruses, including the H1N1 swine flu available, but it’s always worth getting

that will not give your child flu. virus. This is because the virus is expected vaccinated before flu comes around. Since

wFlu can be treated with to be circulating this year. we don’t know when flu will strike, the

antibiotics. No, it can’t. Viruses cause {Children can’t have the flu sooner you have the vaccine the better.

flu, and antibiotics only work against vaccine. Children over the age of six months Vitamin C can prevent flu. No, it

bacteria. You may be prescribed antiviral who are “at risk” of serious illness if they can’t. Many people think that taking daily

medicines to treat your flu. Antivirals catch the flu are eligible for a flu vaccine on vitamin C supplements will stop them

do not cure flu, but they can make you the NHS. The flu vaccine is generally given getting flu, but there’s no evidence to prove

less infectious to others and reduce to children aged 6 months to 2 years as an this. n NHS Choices