Flu Facts

I can't believe that it is nearly October and that time of year when my fridge is full of flu vaccine.  You might not think of flu as the kind of vaccine that I give to travellers but for those going on for example a cruise or the religious pilgrimage to Hajj, I actively encourage them to get protected. 

For some people, catching flu can have very serious implications so the Department of Health provide a free flu vaccine for those: over 65 years, pregnant woman, individuals with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart, kidney, liver, neurological disease or a weakened immune system.  If you are entitled to have the vaccine on the NHS give serious thought to having it and what might happen if you didn't and caught flu.

I have no intentions of being off work sick for a fortnight with flu so I had my flu vaccine this week, as did the rest of the team.  We have all lived to tell the tale and although my arm was slightly red and tender it was nothing that stopped me doing anything that I normally would.  If like me you are not entitled to the vaccine on the NHS but want to avoid having flu then get in touch as we do have some doses available. 

There are lots of myths that surround the flu vaccine, the biggest one probably being that the vaccine gives you flu.  There is no live virus in the injection so you cannot get flu from it.  What is possible is that you can catch flu from someone before the vaccine has had time to protect you.  For that reason, you should get the vaccine as early as you can, before the numbers of people spreading flu creeps up.

The flu strains that circulate each winter change from year to year.  The vaccine  therefore changes each year. This years vaccine has the swine flu strain in it so you will be protected against it if you have the flu vaccine.

For more information see here.

The Travel Clinic