Click HERE to download our Winter 2010 newsletter

Seasonal Flu campaign

This year’s annual seasonal flu vaccination campaign is underway and we would like our patients to participate and significantly improve their ability to be better prepared and protected for the oncoming winter.

Everyone over the age of 65 is routinely offered the jab, as are younger people with long-term conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, serious kidney and liver disease. Around 15 million people in the UK have the jab, which must be administered every year as it is altered each year to match the flu strains in circulation.

People should not underestimate the effects of seasonal flu. It is not the same as getting a cold. It can seriously affect your health and the risks of developing complications are greater if you have certain pre existing medical conditions.

There has been so much coverage about swine flu this year that it is very important to remind people not to forget about getting their normal annual flu jab.

Seasonal flu, also known as influenza, is a highly infectious illness caused by a virus. The virus which is different from swine flu (H1N1) changes every year as does the vaccine, so, it is important that those at risk ensure they receive the jab to protect themselves.

Every year approximately 8,000 people suffer flu-related deaths in the winter months in England and Wales.

The best way to avoid flu is to get immunised, but in addition, people can protect themselves by practising good hand hygiene. This means carrying tissues, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, disposing of the tissue after one use, and cleaning hands as soon as possible.
 

Click HERE to read the latest information on the swine flu outbreak