Seasonal flu vaccine

This can result in periods of prolonged illness or even hospital admissions. Although it's not always possible to avoid common cold viruses, having the flu vaccine can protect against some of the flu viruses that are expected in the UK during the winter. 

The seasonal flu vaccine includes the flu strains that are expected to be the most prominent for that particular year Adults will receive one dose of the seasonal flu vaccine usually between September and early November. This vaccination is free to people who are eligible for the flu vaccine. People with asthma who have not had an invitation from their GP practice to attend for a flu vaccination by the end of September are advised to contact their GP surgery.

Those eligible for the flu vaccine:

1. all those aged 65 years and over
2. all those aged 6 months or over in the clinical risk group (this includes people with asthma who require continuous or repeated use of a steroid preventer inhaler or oral steroids or
3. those that have had asthma attacks requiring hospital admission)
4. pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.
5. those living in long stay residential homes
6. those who are the main carer of an older or disabled person
7. frontline health/social care workers ( vaccinated by their employer as part of an occupational health programme)

If you meet the above criteria and have not been invited for the flu vaccine by your GP, or told you aren't eligible to receive the vaccine, the Department of Health has advised that health care professionals be guided by the information in the chapter on Influenza found in 'Immunisation against Infectious Disease' (The Green Book).

Children and the seasonal flu vaccine

It is recommended that all children with asthma over 6 months who require continuous or repeated use of a steroid preventer inhaler or oral steroids are offered the seasonal flu vaccine. In addition, any child over 6 months who has been admitted to hospital with a lower respiratory tract infection should also be offered the seasonal flu vaccine.

Children aged 6 months to under 13 years will require 2 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine given 4-6 weeks apart if receiving the seasonal flu vaccine for the first time. If they have previously received the seasonal flu vaccine only 1 dose will be required. Children aged 13 and over will require one dose of the seasonal flu vaccine.

Pregnancy and the seasonal flu vaccine

All pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy should receive the seasonal flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is safe to have while pregnant or whilst breastfeeding.

Side effects

Flu vaccines have an excellent safety record with side effects being minor and usually disappearing within one to two days. The vaccine is inactive and cannot cause the flu that it is protecting against. However, people may experience some side effects. If there are any side effects from the vaccine, they are usually limited to some soreness and swelling around the site of the injection, headache, fever, shivering and fatigue.

Those who should not have the seasonal flu vaccine

There are very few people who cannot receive the seasonal flu vaccine. If there is any doubt advice should be sought from your appropriate health care professional.