It is very important that anyone who is eligible for a flu vaccination is vaccinated as it offers the best protection against flu. Even if you've already had a flu jab in previous years, you need another one every year because the viruses that cause flu are always changing. Another reason to get flu vaccine every year is that after you get vaccinated your immunity declines over time and may be too low to provide protection after a year.

Flu is a highly infectious and potentially serious illness caused by influenza viruses, each year the make-up of the flu vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses that the World Health Organization decide are most likely to be circulating in the coming winter.

We would urge anyone entitled to a flu vaccination to speak to his or her doctor, nurse or pharmacist before the flu season starts. The best time to be vaccinated is between late September and early November, ready for the winter. Do not wait until there is a flu epidemic.

To find out whether you should have the flu vaccination click here.

For further information on vaccination and prevention click here.

Did you know?

• Around 15 million people in the UK are affected by colds and flu every year
• In the UK, about 600 people a year die from flu rising to around 13,000 in an epidemic
• Flu vaccination is known to reduce the number of hospital admissions, cases of pneumonia and deaths in older adults at risk from flu
• Droplets from a sneeze spread for over a metre, hang suspended in the air and can survive for up to 24 hours
• Between 50 and 200 for every 100,000 people consult their GP every year with flu-like symptoms
• Flu vaccinations prevent about 70-80% of influenza in healthy adults 

The importance of limiting spread

Limiting the spread of flu among the population is a priority for the Department of Health. The disease is spread or transmitted when a person who has the flu coughs, sneezes or speaks, sending droplets into the air which may be inhaled by other people or may settle on surfaces that other people may touch.

Washing your hands and surfaces around your home or place of work regularly will also help prevent the virus spreading to others.

Please remember that flu symptoms can last for 1-2 weeks.  It is advisable to stay at home, as adults are infectious from one day before symptoms appear and up to 6 days afterwards; this period is longer in children. It is recommended that you rest and drink plenty of fluids.

The virus enters the eyes, nose, throat or lungs of a person and begins to multiply, causing flu symptoms to appear. If you think you may have flu, it is important to act responsibly by using a tissue every time you sneeze, then disposing of it hygienically.

Since the flu is caused by a virus, there is little that your GP can do about it once it takes hold, so it is usually unnecessary to visit your surgery during the illness. You should consult your GP, however if you have any symptoms that are particularly worrying you or which carry on for longer than a week.

Treatment guidelines

Here is the current advice and information from the Department of Health on treatment of seasonal flu. If you are in any doubt about your or your child’s condition, please see your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

Treating seasonal flu at home:

If you are otherwise fit and healthy, you can manage your symptoms at home and you will usually get better without treatment.

• Make sure you have plenty of rest
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Take paracetamol-based cold remedies to lower your temperature and relieve symptoms
• Some over-the-counter treatments can be given to children, but under-16s must not take aspirin or ready-made flu remedies containing it
• You may need to stay in bed for two or three days after your symptoms peak
• Antibiotics are not normally prescribed for flu as they have no effect on viruses. However, occasionally it may be necessary to treat complications of flu, especially serious chest infections or pneumonia

See your GP if any of the following applies to you:

• Your symptoms have got much worse, you are in an ‘at risk’ group or you have developed other symptoms that are not typical of seasonal flu, such as a rash
• Your symptoms have lasted for longer than a week
• You have a medical condition that is making your flu worse
• If another disease is suspected, e.g. if you have recently been travelling