Seasonal Flu Vaccination

Flu (influenza) is a highly infectious illness caused by the flu virus.  For most people, flu is unpleasant but not serious. You will usually recover within a week.

The flu vaccination is offered by the practice to people in the following at-risk groups:

• All children aged 2 years of age and over, not yet at primary school    
• All patients aged 65 years and over
• Chronic respiratory disease
• Chronic heart disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic neurological disease, including stroke, multiple sclerosis
• Diabetes
• Immunosupression
• Pregnant women
• Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen, eg coeliac disease
• Patients with a body mass index >40
• Patients living in long-stay residential care homes
• Carers who are in receipt of a carer's allowance or who are the main carer

Final flu vaccination clinic being held on Thursday 23 November 2017 at West Church, Bangor (2.00 -4.30pm) 

Should I get the Flu Vaccination?

For most people, flu is unpleasant but not serious. You will usually recover within a week.

However, certain people are at greater risk of developing serious complications of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. These conditions may require hospital treatment.

The flu vaccine is offered free to people who are at risk, to protect them from catching flu and developing serious complications.

It is recommended that you have a flu jab if you are in one of the at-risk groups. In addition all children attending primary school will be offered the flu immunisation as a nasal spray in school.  Children who miss their appointment at school will be able to obtain the immunisation via the practice.

Who should not have the flu vaccination?

You should not have the flu vaccine if you have ever had a confirmed allergic reaction to a flu vaccine or one of its ingredients. This happens very rarely.

If you have had a confirmed very serious (anaphylactic) reaction to egg, have an egg allergy with uncontrolled asthma or another type of allergy to egg, your GP may decide that you should be vaccinated with an egg-free vaccine. If no egg-free vaccine is available, your GP will identify a suitable vaccine with a low egg (ovalbumin) content, the details of which will be in the Green Book - Immunisation against infectious disease (PDF, 3.21Mb).

Depending on the severity of your egg allergy, your GP may decide to refer you to a specialist for vaccination in hospital.

If you are ill with a fever, do not have your flu jab until you have recovered.

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