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Most years it provides a 70 to 90 per
cent probability of complete protection. This is the best defence available
against the flu.
- Can the flu jab cause the flu?
Absolutely not. The vaccine contains no
live flu virus so it is impossible for it to give you the flu.
- How does the vaccine work?
The vaccine contains inactivated virus
that enables your immune system to make antibodies. These protect it against
the strains of the virus predicted by the World Health Organisation as the most
likely to hit the UK.
- How long does the vaccine take to work?
Protection develops about a week after
receiving the vaccine.
Side effects are extremely uncommon. Some
people may feel some slight soreness in their arm where they had the injection.
Occasionally a slight temperature or headache 24 hours after the jab may be
experienced.
- Does the vaccine protect against colds?
No, the viruses that cause colds are different
from the ones that cause flu. But the effects of flu at home and at work are
far nastier than a cold, so it is good to be as protected as possible.
Flu - or to give it its proper name
influenza - is a highly infectious virus which affects your respiratory tract
(nose, throat and lungs). Symptoms include headache, high fever, chills, sore
throat, aching muscles and joints and a dry cough. For most people the flu
lasts for about a week and can leave them feeling very tired for some time
after. Occasionally complications develop in at-risk groups and some people are
ill for longer, and need hospital care.
Yes, no matter how fit and healthy the
individual is, they can end up in bed with the flu.
- Can you avoid catching the flu?
The flu virus is very infectious, so if
there is an outbreak, it can be hard to avoid unless you have natural immunity
to it. The most effective way to avoid the flu is to get vaccinated, which
offers around 70 to 90 per cent protection. Handwashing and trapping coughs and
sneezes in your handkerchief will also help avoid the spread of infection.
Discomfort is minimal. The injection is
given in the upper arm via a small needle and only takes a couple of seconds to
administer. The jab is given by a highly qualified nurse and your staff member
will be back at their desk within minutes.
No. Unfortunately, you have to be
vaccinated yearly as the flu virus is constantly changing, so each year the
virus is slightly different.
- Should anyone not have the flu jab?
You should not be vaccinated: if you
have a serious allergy to hens' eggs; if you have had an allergic reaction to a
previous flu vaccine; if you are allergic to the medicines neomycin or
gentamicin. Flu vaccine is safe in pregnancy.
- Does the NHS provide flu jabs?
Yes, but it focuses its effort on
specific groups such as the over 65s. Healthy working adults only receive a flu
vaccine if provided by their employer or if they choose to pay for it
privately.
Influenza is a family of viruses which
affect humans, pigs and birds, producing the illness “flu”, which is of
variable severity. Swine flu and Bird Flu are variants. Swine flu does not
normally affect humans, but this particular strain has crossed into humans and
caused the recent trouble. Pig to human spread is usually limited to rural and
farming communities. However, if human to human spread occurs, then the range
and speed of transmission will increase and create a lot of trouble. The same
biological principles apply to bird flu. There is no vaccine currently
available for swine flu or Bird Flu.
A flu epidemic is when a high
proportion of people get influenza - often as a result of a significant change
in the flu virus. Flu epidemics tend to happen every few years in the UK.
A flu pandemic occurs when a major
change to the flu virus emerges, for which worldwide, patients have little
defence.. During the 20th century there were three flu pandemics, including the
Spanish flu which is estimated to have infected half the world population,
killing some 30 million people.
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