You may have recently seen in the news that there has been a shortage of this year’s flu vaccine.

Public Health England have now informed us that the delays by the manufacturer of the nasal spray version of the vaccine, causing the previous shortage, have been resolved, and that the primary school based flu vaccination programme is underway once more (the adult programme was not affected). GP’s have been advised to contact parents of all eligible children by early December.

Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at Public Health England (PHE), has stated…

The flu vaccine is the best defence we have against what can be a serious and fatal illness, and flu season is just around the corner. If you are in an eligible group, visit your GP or pharmacist as soon possible to ensure you are protected.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England (NHSE) national medical director, has stated…

Flu can be extremely serious and even kill in some cases and getting vaccinated is the best protection against it.

NHS services across England continue to work hard to prepare for the winter season, including staff getting their free flu jab, and now we’re appealing to the public to ‘Help Us, Help You’ by ensuring that they and their eligible children or relatives get vaccinated, now.

Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, has stated…

Influenza can be a very unpleasant illness, and while it is not generally a serious illness for most people, for those in at-risk groups, such as young children, elderly people, those with long-term conditions and pregnant women, flu has the potential to trigger life-threatening complications.

The best defence against the flu is to be vaccinated and we strongly urge all patients in at-risk groups to get vaccinated and for parents to ensure their young children receive their vaccine as soon as possible.

Those aged 65 and over, children and adults with underlying medical conditions and pregnant women are also strongly encouraged to get their free vaccine in the next few weeks, before flu begins to do the rounds – please consider getting it and remember that…

You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine. The nasal spray is live but a greatly weakened version of the virus, so keep away from anyone who is severely immune suppressed (chemotherapy patients and those in who are on immune suppressant medication) but otherwise the flu nasal spray is much less able to spread between people. The injected vaccine is not live. If you had the ‘flu’ after a flu vaccination before, you had already unknowingly contracted the flu, or had a different virus.
The flu can and does kill, vaccinating protects us and the more vulnerable people in our communities.
The flu can affect even the most seemingly healthy individuals!
Mild temporary side effects are common, serious side effects are very rare.