Protect you and your family against flu this winter
30 October 2019
Eligible residents urged to have a free flu jab
Herefordshire Council is encouraging the county’s residents who are most susceptible to flu, to make an appointment with their local GP practice or pharmacy for a free flu vaccination.
Vaccination against the flu virus, is the single best protection you can have from a potentially very serious illness, and this year, the NHS is offering the free vaccine to 25 million people across the country.
You will be eligible for a free NHS flu vaccination from your GP practice or local community pharmacy, if you’re:
- 65 years or over (including those turning 65 by 31 March)
- Pregnant
- A carer
- Living with certain medical conditions
- Residing in a long stay residential care home or other care facility
- A front line health and social care worker
Children can also receive the vaccine from their GP practice, if they’re:
- Over 6 months old with a long term health condition
- Aged 2 and 3 years old by 31 August 2019
All primary school aged children will be invited to receive the nasal flu vaccination by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, which is normally given whilst your child is at school. For more information about the programme, please visit their immunisation and vaccination service page.
Dr Ian Tait, GP and Clinical Chair for NHS Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “As a GP, I can’t stress enough how important it is to protect yourself and others from flu, particularly if you are in an at risk group or look after someone who is. We are all responsible to help prevent the spread of the flu virus and protect ourselves and others as much as we can.
“As well as getting the vaccine, practising good hand hygiene is extremely important. By catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue, throwing it away and washing your hands afterwards, it can help limit the spread of the virus.”
Karen Wright, Director of Public Health for Herefordshire, added: “Flu is potentially a very serious illness. Up to 77% of people with flu have no symptoms, so they could be spreading the virus to family and friends, even though they feel fit and healthy.
“The vaccination is the best protection you can have against the flu. It’s quick, easy and safe and because the injected flu vaccine given to adults contains inactivated flu viruses, it’s a myth that it can give you the flu.
“We encourage everyone who is eligible for the flu vaccine, to book an appointment with their GP practice or local pharmacy as soon as they can.”
For more information, including where to find your nearest community pharmacy, take a look at our flu vaccination page.