Vulnerable people urged to get flu jabs

We help bust some flu jab myths Credit: PA

Vulnerable people across the Midlands are being urged to get their flu jabs.

Experts say flu is a highly contagious infection that can become a serious illness.

Four groups have been identified as being most at risk:

  • Pregnant women

  • People with long term conditions e.g. diabetes to asthma, heart disease, multiple sclerosis

  • Carers

  • People over 65 years

But how serious is flu? Well, flu is different to getting a cold and the effects of seasonal flu are often underestimated.

Some people are more at risk from flu and need the vaccine because they are not able to fight off flu as easily as others.

The flu virus also changes every year, so the vaccine that fights it also has to change in order to fight it.

There are lots of myths around the flu jab. Here are just five:

  • Having flu is just like having a heavy cold:

A bad bout of flu is much worse than a heavy cold. Flu symptoms come on suddenly and sometimes severely. They include fever, chills, headaches and aching muscles, as well as a cough and sore throat. So, you’re likely to spend two or three days in bed. If you get complications caused by flu, you could become seriously ill and have to go to hospital.

  • Having the flu jab gives you flu

No, it doesn’t. The vaccine can’t give you flu. It just can't. End of story.

  • Flu can be treated with antibiotics

Viruses cause flu and antibiotics only work against bacteria. You may be prescribed antiviral medicines to treat your flu. Antivirals do not cure flu, but they can make you less infectious to others.

  • Pregnant women shouldn't have the flu jab

You should have the vaccine whatever stage of pregnancy you are in. If you’re pregnant, you could get very ill if you get flu, which could also be bad for your baby. Having the jab can also protect your baby against flu after they're born and during the early months of life.

  • Children can't have flu jabs

Children over the age of six months who are most 'at risk' of serious illness if they catch flu are eligible for the flu jab on the NHS and it's important that they receive the vaccine.

These are children with a pre-existing illness such as a respiratory or neurological condition or children who are having treatment such as chemotherapy.