The NHS winter flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme provides vital protection to those eligible and their families over winter, keeping people from developing serious illnesses, and helping to minimise hospitalisations during busy winter months. Even if the vaccine is not a perfect match it will usually offer some protection. Major mismatches do not happen very often. What you need to do carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person

The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness. Healthy individuals usually recover within 2 to 7 days, but for some the disease can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even death. For advice and information about flu vaccination, speak to your GP, practice nurse, pharmacist or school immunisation team. You should consider having the vaccine if you have any long-term health condition listed above, or you are:

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The flu vaccine can be given at the same time as all routine vaccines. The vaccination can go ahead if you or your child has a minor illness such as a cold but may be delayed for illnesses that include a fever. People who shouldn’t have the vaccination So please come forward to get your protection against both covid and flu as soon as possible once invited – it will help protect you and those around you this winter.” Children aged 2 and 3 years will be given the vaccination at their general practice, usually by the practice nurse. If your child is aged between 6 months and 2 years old and is in a high-risk group for flu, they will be offered an injected flu vaccine as the nasal spray is not recommended for children under the age of 2 years old. Some children over the age of 2 years who are in a high-risk group will also need to have an injected vaccine if the nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for them. If you have flu symptoms you should talk to your doctor urgently, because if you do have flu there is a prescribed medicine that might help (or reduce the risk of complications), but it needs to be taken as soon as possible after the symptoms appear.

reduce their risk of serious complications such as pneumonia, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy Speak to your GP or practice nurse, or alternatively your local pharmacist, to book a vaccination appointment.Pregnancy alters how the body handles infections such as flu. Flu infection increases the chances of pregnant women and their babies needing intensive care. All pregnant women should have a flu vaccine to protect themselves and their babies. Flu vaccine can be given safely at any stage of pregnancy, from conception onwards.