Older people, pregnant women and children are being urged to get their flu vaccination this year to help stay well this winter.
Enfield Council is leading by example, with officers and the Cabinet Member for public health Cllr Yasemin Brett gathering to get their flu jab at a local pharmacy to show how simple and painless the procedure is.
Flu can be a potentially fatal illness. People will often carry and spread the disease without knowing they have it, therefore it’s important to get vaccinated not just for yourself but for your loved ones. The flu jab is one of the best forms of protection against the virus. You are eligible for a free flu jab if you:
- Are 65 years of age or over
- Are pregnant
- Are a child aged 2 and 3 on 31 August 2018 (nasal spray vaccination)
- Are a child in reception class or in school year 1,2, 3, 4 and 5 (nasal spray vaccination)
- Have certain medical conditions
- Are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility
- Are a social care worker or hospice worker
- Receive a carer’s allowance, or you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill
As Enfield Council’s officers will agree, the side effects to the flu vaccine are mild or non-existent! If you had the vaccine last year, you will still need it again this winter so you are protected against the new strains of flu that are circulating. An estimated 8,000 people die from flu in England each year.*
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Cllr Yasemin Brett, said: “We want to build a Healthy Enfield where everyone plays their part and takes sensible precautions against sickness. The vaccine really is the best way to protect yourself and your children from a really nasty health condition and it can also help prevent the spread of the flu to other vulnerable people. Don’t delay, get your jab today.”
As well as getting vaccinated at your GP clinic or local pharmacy, there are other things people can do to help keep themselves well during the winter. It’s important to have a healthy, varied diet, drink warm fluids, keep yourself active and take your regular medications. Keep an eye on friends and neighbours, particularly those that are more vulnerable. If you need to see your GP urgently, don’t forget Enfield’s primary care access hubs have appointments in the evenings and at weekends. Call the out of hours GP service on 03000 333 666.
For more information visit the NHS website.
If you would like Enfield Council’s regular health and wellbeing newsletter, you can sign up here: https://bit.ly/2kh3DC6
*Source: Public Health England