Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Should You Get a Flu Jab?

18th October 2012

What is flu?
Flu is much more than a bad cold. It's a virus which can make even healthy people feel very unwell for a week or more. In the most serious cases, flu can bring on pneumonia, or other serious infections which can, in extreme cases, result in death

In Scotland the flu season usually begins as the weather gets colder, so get the jab as soon as you can. The vaccine is available from October through to the end of March but remember, during the flu season it's never too soon to get vaccinated.

Flu is often spread through the air by coughs and sneezes. It can also be caught by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces.

Who needs the flu vaccination?
Anyone who suffers from heart or lung problems, who has certain long term medical conditions, or is 65 or over, should get the flu vaccine.

If you have an underlying medical condition, flu can hit you hardest. The jab is the safest and most effective way of protecting yourself.

Conditions and diseases which can make flu much more dangerous include:

asthma
bronchitis
emphysema
cystic fibrosis
chronic heart disease
chronic kidney failure
multiple sclerosis
liver problems (such as cirrhosis/hepatitis)
diabetes
HIV infection.
If you are pregnant, you are at greater risk of complications from flu. Having the vaccine now could help you avoid catching flu and protect your baby.

If you have children who suffer from any of the conditions above, they should be vaccinated too.

Anyone undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment should also get vaccinated.

Unpaid carers of any age including young carers are also eligible for the flu vaccine.

How the flu vaccine works
The vaccine takes around 10 days to work and should protect you from flu for around a year. You have to get vaccinated annually, because the virus changes constantly and your immunity reduces over time. Last year's vaccine won't necessarily protect you from this year's flu viruses. Also, it's important to realise that the flu vaccine does not contain a live virus. This means the vaccine can't give you flu, but it can stop you catching it.

For the best protection against flu, you need to have a new flu jab every year.

The vaccine doesn't contain any live viruses, so it cannot give you flu.

Where do I go to get my vaccination?
Simply contact your GP surgery to arrange an appointment. The flu jab is free to everyone in Scotland with an underlying medical condition or who is 65 or over.

Remember, the vaccine only takes a few minutes and could help keep you well over the winter.

Arrange your vaccination as soon as you can.

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Riverview General Practice to integrate with Riverbank and Lybster
Following the successful merger of GP Practices in Riverbank (Thurso) and Lybster in 2021, NHS Highland is now supporting Riverview Practice (Wick) to integrate into this unified primary healthcare team.   This will bring benefit to both patients and staff thanks to closer working relationships between the practice teams.  
[]
22/3/2018
Help is available to reduce Council Tax charges
The Highland Council is advising low income households, including home-owners, to apply for help to reduce their Council Tax.  Eligible households can receive up to 100% reduction from their Council Tax which means that those households who receive the full reduction will only have to pay their Scottish Water and Wastewater charges.  
[]
6/5/2015
Your vote matters tomorrow
Voters in the three Highland constituencies for the UK Parliamentary General Election of: Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross; Ross, Skye and Lochaber; and Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey are being reminded by Returning Officer Steve Barron that their vote matters.   Tomorrow (Thursday 7 May) voting begins with 283 polling stations opening their doors at 7am and remaining open for voters until 10pm.  
[]
30/4/2014
Act now to secure your vote in European Parliamentary Election
Don't lose your vote poster With the European Parliamentary Elections taking place on Thursday 22 May, Bill Gillies, Electoral Registration Officer for the Highland and Western Isles area is urging voters to make sure they are registered to vote in time.   “People are talking about the elections, but you’ll only be able to have your say on who represents you in the European Parliament if you’re registered to vote by the deadline of Tuesday 6 May and for postal applications by 7 May”, said Mr Gillies.  
[]
2/4/2014
Option Selected for A9 Berriedale Braes hairpinThumbnail for article : Option Selected for A9 Berriedale Braes hairpin
Users of the A9 will welcome the news that a preferred option has been chosen for the challenging hairpin bend at Berriedale Braes on the northernmost part of Scotland’s longest trunk road.   A public exhibition is being held today at Berriedale (2nd April 2014) to give people the opportunity to view the proposals and provide their comments.