FAQs
- What is flu?
- At Risk Groups
- Why should I be concerned about flu?
- How do I avoid getting flu?
- Are there any side effects?
What is flu?
Influenza (flu) is a viral infection that usually strikes between December and March.
It can affect people of all ages.
It's more than a heavy cold!
The first signs are headache, sore throat and runny nose, aching muscles, fever
and shivering. Flu makes you feel Acompletely exhausted and the extreme fatigue may
last for one to two weeks.
You can catch flu by inhaling the virus or by handling items touched by an infected
person. The symptoms start to develop one to four days later.
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At Risk Groups:
Influenza is a major cause of illness and suffering in all age groups. Flu
vaccination is the cornerstone and primary method for preventing influenza and
its complications that can result in hospitalization or death, especially in
high-risk groups. The primary target groups recommended for annual flu vaccination
are:
Age 65 or over
and people who suffer from:
Chronic Lung Disease
Diabetes
Chronic Heart Disease
Chronic Renal Disease
Chronic Liver Disease
Chronic neurological disease, including stroke and transient ischaemic attack
(TIA)
Immunosuppression
or
are pregnant
If you can answer 'yes' to any of the questions below, your doctor may recommend
that you have a flu jab.
Are you aged 65 or older?
Whilst most people reaching retirement age these days regard themselves as thirtysomethings,
death from influenza is most common in the over 65s - you are more likely to
have severe flu and be admitted to hospital than younger patients.
Have you had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack?
There is evidence that receiving the annual flu vaccine reduces the risk of
a stroke in patients with a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack
(also known as a mini-stroke).
Do you have reduced immunity?
If you are receiving chemotherapy or steroid treatment, have no spleen, or if
you have HIV/AIDS, your immune system is already considerably weakened. Flu
will further reduce your capacity to fight infection.
Do you have chronic heart disease?
People with flu may experience changes or abnormalities in the rhythm of their
heartbeat, which indicates there is a problem with the heart muscles. Having flu
has been shown to increase your risk of heart attack and other related
illnesses.
Do you have chronic liver disease?
You may be more susceptible to catching flu and more likely to develop complications
or worsening of your liver disease.
Do you have chronic kidney disease?
Flu can cause dehydration which can worsen your kidney problems.
Do you have diabetes?
The death rate among people with diabetes can increase by between 5% and 15%
when there is a lot of flu about.
Do you have chronic lung disease or certain types of asthma?
Flu can bring on asthma attacks and will make chronic bronchitis much worse.
If you get flu, a secondary infection like pneumonia can set in. If you go on
to develop pneumonia, the risk of developing further complications could be
higher.
Are you pregnant?
Pregnant women are more likely to have serious illness if they catch flu, especially H1N1.
Pregnant women are around 4 times more likely to develop serious complications
as a result of H1N1 compared to women who are not pregnant1.
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Why should I be concerned about flu?
Most people who get flu recover after a week or two, but some develop life-threatening
complications such as pneumonia, nerve or brain damage. You are more likely
to be at risk from the complications of flu if you are in one of the 'at-risk'
groups above and your body is already weakened.
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How do I avoid getting flu?
The best way to avoid getting flu is to have a flu jab during the Autumn -
usually between October and November - each year. Flu vaccination is free of
charge for people in the 'at-risk' groups.
You need to have a jab each year to maintain your immunity, as the flu virus
is always changing. The jab will not stop you getting coughs and colds, but
can protect you against the latest strains of flu. Flu vaccination does not
cause flu.
As the vaccine is made in hens' eggs, you should not have a
flu jab if you are allergic to eggs, chicken protein or if you have had a previous
allergic reaction to a flu jab.
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Are there any side effects?
Like all medicines, Influvac and Imuvac can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
During clinical trials, the following side effects have been observed. Their frequencies have been
estimated as Common: affects 1 to 10 users in 100.
- headache
- sweating
- muscular pain (myalgia), joint pain (arthralgia)
- fever, generally feeling unwell (malaise), shivering, fatigue
- local reactions: redness, swelling, pain, bruising (ecchymosis), hardness (induration) around the area where the vaccine is injected.
These reactions usually disappear within 1-2 days without treatment.
Next to the above common side effects, the following side effects occurred after the vaccine
came on the market:
- allergic reactions:
- leading to medical emergency with a failure of the circulatory system to maintain adequate blood flow to the different organs (shock) in rare cases
- swelling most apparent in the head and neck, including the face, lips, tongue, throat or any other part of the body (angioedema) in very rare cases
- skin reactions that may spread throughout the body including itchiness of the skin (pruritus, urticaria), rash
- blood vessel inflammation which may result in skin rashes (vasculitis) and in very rare cases in temporary kidney problems
- pain situated on the nerve route (neuralgia), anomalies in the perception of touch, pain, heat and cold (paraesthesia), fits (convulsions)
associated with fever, neurological disorders that may result in stiff neck, confusion, numbness, pain and weakness of the limbs, loss of balance,
loss of reflexes, paralysis of part or all the body (encephalomyelitis,neuritis, Guillain-Barré Syndrom)
- temporary reduction in the number of certain types of particles in the blood called platelets; a low number of these can result in excessive
bruising or bleeding (transient thrombocytopenia); temporary swelling of the glands in the neck, armpit or groin (transient lymphadenopathy)
For further information, please see the Patient Information Leaflet and SPC.
If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed above, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Refs: 1. DOH Communication 16 December 2010.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_122921.pdf
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