FROM CROFTON HEALTH CENTRE

Flu Vaccination Time!

Crofton and Sharlston Medical Practice is once again offering free flu vaccination to people over the age of 65 or within a specified at-risk group such as diabetes, heart, liver or respiratory disease, people with a history of stroke or transient ischemic heart attack or people with a weak immune system.

If you fit into any of the above categories, we will be writing to invite you to one of our many clinics offered between the 29th September and 10th October 2008. Please contact reception to arrange a mutually convenient appointment for you to have the vaccination.

To help us make the vaccination as comfortable as possible for you, it would be helpful if you could wear a loose-fit/short sleeved top to give easy access to the arm for injection. Try not to wear too many layers as this could cause discomfort, having to take them off before the vaccination is given.

Dispelling Flu Myths

Sometimes people hold incorrect beliefs about flu injections. Here are some things that are not true about flu vaccination.

Myth 1 - flu vaccine might give you the flu 

Flu vaccine does not contain any live virus and cannot cause flu As the vaccine takes 10 - 14 days to produce antibodies, it is possible to catch flu before the vaccine starts to work. There are also other conditions that can cause symptoms similar to flu, that the vaccine will not prevent.

Myth 2. - over 65s don't need a flu vaccine if they are fit and well

Regardless of how well you feel, it is very important to be vaccinated annually because your immune system is less able to defend against infections as you get older.

Myth 3 - flu vaccination will protect against pandemic flu

Pandemic flu would be caused by a new strain of flu virus. Current vaccines will not give protection against pandemic flu as they do not target whatever the new strain might be. But it is still important for vulnerable people to protect themselves against 'ordinary flu¹.

Myth 4 - flu vaccination makes you feel terrible

Flu vaccination should not make you feel unwell. There may be temporary soreness at the site of injection. Rarely, it can cause fever and muscle ache lasting up to two days.

Flu vaccines are highly effective in preventing flu, but no vaccine can offer total protection. The Department of Health says that immunisation is one of the most effective health care interventions and flu vaccines are highly effective, preventing illness and reducing hospital admissions and deaths from flu.